This is the right age to give your child a smartphone

Parents around the world are increasingly faced with dilemmas when it comes to the right time to give their children a smartphone. The debate around this issue is heating up, as research evidence shows that early smartphone use can have negative effects on children's mental health.

A study by Sapien Labs, published last year and involving 27,969 young people aged 18-24 from 41 countries, found that the earlier young people get their first smartphone, the more vulnerable they are.

According to the study, about 74% of girls who got their first smartphone by age six reported feeling sad or stressed. This percentage dropped to 52% for those who had received their first smartphone at age 15.

 

Among boys, 42% of those who got their first smartphone by age 6 experienced sadness or stress, a percentage that dropped to 36% for those who got their smartphone by age 18.

 

As CNBC reports, smartphones have become an integral part of everyday life in an increasingly connected online world. Many parents want to give their children these devices to track their location and stay in touch with them when they are out of the house. But the question remains: How early is safe for children's health?

 

Zach Rausch, a researcher at New York University's Stern School of Business, says it's important to keep smartphones away from pre-teens. According to him, it is recommended that the use of smartphones be postponed until the age of 14 and social networks until the age of 16.

 

Ideally, he adds, this would apply to all levels of education up to secondary school, banning the use of cell phones in school.

 

High school is considered critical

 

According to Rausch, age recommendations of 14 for smartphones and 16 for social media are important for two main reasons:

 

Early adolescence is characterized by insecurity and excessive sensitivity, which make this period particularly challenging.

 

Also, at the age of 12-13, the highest rate of bullying has been observed, so delaying the use of smartphones can help prevent this problem from getting worse.

 

These age limits are considered by researchers to be reasonable and basic to avoid the phenomenon of children aged 6 or 10 having their own smartphone.