Children who gain access to smartphones before age 12 face sharply higher risks of depression, obesity, and sleep disorders, according to new research that warns early exposure could trigger lasting health consequences.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 1st, local time, the international academic journal *Paediatrics*, published by the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), released research findings on the correlation between the age at which smartphone use begins and health.
The study utilised data from the Brain Cognitive Development Study, which involved 15,000 children and adolescents in the United States.
The findings showed that among children under 12 years old, the younger they were when they acquired a smartphone, the higher the probability of experiencing obesity and sleep deprivation.
Additionally, among children who did not use smartphones until the age of 12, those who acquired a smartphone one year later had a higher risk of mental health issues and sleep disorders compared to those who did not.
The research team stated, “Adolescence is a sensitive period where even minor changes in sleep or mental health can have profound effects,” and emphasised, “The age at which one begins using a smartphone is also important.”However, the study has limitations: although it demonstrated an association between early smartphone use and health, it did not establish a causal relationship.
