The Christmas and winter holiday season is here, and as always, holiday sales are in full swing for all kinds of tech that kids and teens wish for each year, including televisions, gaming consoles, and, of course, smartphones. Children under the age of 12 are increasingly asking for smartphones and other tech for various reasons. Many want to be able to communicate with friends and access social media, while schools are relying more on devices like laptops, Chromebooks, or smartphones to facilitate their curriculum.
Parents also depend on their kids having smartphones to ensure their safety and to track their whereabouts when they are out with friends. However, as this reliance grows, parents should think twice before giving their elementary-aged children a touch-screen phone.
Almost a quarter of parents with children under the age of 12 surveyed by the Pew Research Center earlier this year reported that their kids either have access to or own a smartphone. Nearly six in ten parents stated that their 11- to 12-year-olds have smartphones—a dramatic increase from three in ten among parents of children aged eight to ten.
What many parents often overlook when providing their early adolescents with smartphones and unrestricted internet access is the potential impact on their physical and mental health. A new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ journal, Pediatrics, analyzed data from 10,588 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. The research found that children under the age of 12 are at a higher risk for developing various health conditions, such as depression and obesity, as well as poorer sleep quality, if given a smartphone compared to peers who do not have one.
The study also revealed that when a smartphone was introduced to participants aged 12 and 13, previously without access, the mental health effects were even more pronounced—these children were more likely to report clinical-level psychopathology, or mental illness.
These findings raise alarming questions about the effects of early internet access on the developing brains and bodies of children. In 2020, the American College of Pediatricians released a report detailing the adverse impacts that excessive and unrestrained media and internet access can have on a child's development.
According to a 2018 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, “54% of American teens between the ages of 13 and 17 worried they were spending too much time on their cell phones, and 52% tried to cut back their usage.” The report noted that nearly half of the teenage girls surveyed who attempted to reduce screen time experienced increased anxiety due to not having their phones, while just over a third of boys reported the same feelings.
In addition to mental health concerns, smartphones and devices used for streaming and gaming also negatively impact children’s physical health. Increased screen time often leads to decreased opportunities for developing essential motor skills and daily-life abilities, such as tying shoes or riding a bike, unless parents enforce limits on screen time to encourage outdoor play.
If kids spend their days sitting and staring at screens instead of being physically active, their chances of becoming obese or overweight significantly increase, ultimately diminishing their overall quality of life.
So, perhaps parents of younger children should consider holding off on gifting smartphones this Christmas and for birthdays just a bit longer.