A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics recommends 13 years as the best age for children to receive their first smartphone.
The research followed almost 2 thousand young people and indicates that the moment of introducing the device into the daily routine can affect habits, as well as aspects of mental and physical health during adolescence, as highlighted by Bloomberg.
From 13 years old: what the study says
Giving the first smartphone at age 13 appears as a more protected option, according to the researchers. Analysis of data from nearly 2,000 participants identified regular patterns that link initiation of use with various health outcomes over time.
The authors do not advocate an absolute ban, but rather the possibility of postponing access. The basic principle is clear: the later intense contact with screens begins, the lower the risks associated with emotional health and sleep quality.
Psychiatrist Ran Barzilay of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia summed up the conclusion cautiously: “Age of 13 seems safer.” He further notes that, even at this stage, parental monitoring of usage remains essential.
The impact of cell phones on young people’s health
The findings show that receiving a smartphone at age 13 had no direct association with depression or obesity. However, one effect stood out most clearly in the analysis: the deterioration in sleep quality.
And sleep acts as a central factor in this context, according to scientists. Previous work by the same group had already detected that 12-year-old children with cell phones were at greater risk of depression, obesity and inadequate sleep.
What the results emphasize is not limited to mere possession of the device, but mainly to the way it integrates into everyday life.
- More than 5 hours a day on your cell phone doubles your risk of depression
- The same pattern also appears in cases of obesity and insufficient sleep
- Using your cell phone at night tends to harm your rest even more.
- Keeping the device out of the bedroom can help improve sleep quality
- Simple changes to your routine already show a measurable impact over time
Simple limits can make a big difference
The researchers emphasize that it is not necessary to change the entire routine to reduce the negative effects. In many cases, small and regular changes already produce positive results, especially when it comes to sleep.
A practical example is to prevent your cell phone from staying in your room at night. According to the study, this single measure can significantly increase the quality of rest for teenagers.
This is a very simple intervention or behavioral modification that can make a big difference.
Ran Barzilay, a psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told Bloomberg
In practice, several families adopt alternatives to deal with the issue. Among them, the “Wait until 8th grade” movement stands out, which postpones the use of smartphones, in addition to the preference for basic devices intended only for calls and messages.
A debate that is already reaching schools and governments
The conversation about the use of cell phones in childhood has already left the family sphere. In certain countries, the issue is part of public policy decisions. Australia, for example, banned the creation of social media accounts for children under 16, which stimulated similar discussions in other locations.
Meanwhile, the search for options to the conventional smartphone increases, such as simpler equipment focused on basic communication.
In the end, the study reinforces a view that is gaining strength among experts: more important than the exact age of cell phone delivery is the way in which it is incorporated into the routine of children and adolescents.
