A recent study has suggested that children who own and actively use smartphones before their teenage years especially between ages 9 and 12 may face increased risks of both mental and physical health issues.
Researchers reported that youngsters who had access to a smartphone by age 12 showed higher rates of obesity, sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms.
The findings, released in the journal Pediatrics by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, analysed data from over 10,000 children aged 12, comparing those who possessed smartphones with those who did not.
According to the study, owning a smartphone at age 12 was linked with a 31% rise in depression risk, a 40% greater likelihood of obesity and a 62% higher chance of insufficient sleep.
The team also observed a pattern: the earlier a child begins using a smartphone, the more pronounced the negative effects may be on their overall well-being.
Read also: Research links early smartphone use to health problems in children under 12
