A new study found that children who receive a smartphone before age 12 are more likely to develop depression, obesity and poor sleep habits. Researchers say the risks increase the earlier a child gets a device.
The findings were published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. They add new weight to a debate that has intensified among parents who worry about the growing influence of technology on childhood development.
Researchers reviewed data from more than 10,500 children participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. The team looked at children between ages 9 and 16 and examined when they received their first smartphone and how that age affected long term health.
According to the study, 12 year olds who owned a smartphone had a 1.3 times higher risk of depression compared to those who did not. They also had a 1.4 times higher risk of obesity and a 1.6 times higher risk of insufficient sleep. The earlier a child received a smartphone, the more the risks increased. Researchers said the health risk rose by about 10 percent for each year earlier, starting as young as age four.
Source 1 reported similar findings and noted that younger children with phones were more likely to develop depression, obesity and poor sleep compared to those who waited until they were older. The report also highlighted concerns about less socialization, reduced physical activity and heavy nighttime phone use.
A 2023 study found that 17 percent of 11 and 12 year olds with a device in their bedroom were being woken up by notifications. Other research indicates that more than 80 percent of children between the ages of 11 and 17 do not engage in sufficient daily physical activity. Experts say increased screen time is one reason why.
Dr. Ran Barzilay, the lead author of the new study and a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said the results should make parents think carefully before giving a smartphone to a young child. He told ABC News that many experts recommend delaying smartphone access. He also said he was motivated to conduct the study partly because his own nine year old is asking for a phone.
Barzilay said the findings were “quite surprising” and that even children who received a smartphone at age 13, after not having one at age 12, showed worse mental health outcomes and reduced sleep within the first year.
Although the study shows an association and not direct causation, the authors said the results add to a growing body of evidence connecting early smartphone use to negative health effects. They also noted that adolescence is a critical period for physical and emotional development, which makes early technology exposure especially important to evaluate.
Some earlier research has found weaker links between smartphone use and mental health problems. The New York Post report noted that a Stanford study found no major increase in depression or sleep issues among kids who received a phone before age 11. Still, many parents have begun delaying phones because they want to avoid potential risks.
Experts say there is no single “correct age” for a child to get a smartphone. They recommend evaluating a child’s maturity level and responsibility first. Some also advise setting rules such as keeping phones out of bedrooms at night and making sure children stay active in outdoor or social activities.
Barzilay said smartphones can offer benefits such as communication and access to information, but parents should view them as powerful devices that can affect long term health. He added that his nine year old will not be getting a smartphone anytime soon.
The study’s release is expected to renew national discussion over childhood screen time, parental responsibility and the growing role of technology in kids’ daily lives.