According to new worldwide research, parents shouldn’t be giving preteens under the age of 13 smartphones, as it can be detrimental to their development and mental health.
In the digital age, being a parent can feel helpless due to the lack of control they have regarding what their kids are looking at when they’re online. The debate over when kids should have access to the internet has existed since it was first created, however, in our modern age of social media, it’s even more complicated.
A new global study is hoping to help give some guidance to concerned parents when it comes to internet access and their children. In order to protect their kids’ development and mental health, the study says that parents should avoid giving their kids smartphones and devices if they’re under the age of 13.
Smartphones used by kids under 13 are linked to suicidal thoughts, lack of emotional regulation, lower self-esteem, and detachment from reality, according to the study which was published this week in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities.
The study found that for every year before 13 that a child receives a smartphone their mental health and well-being were likely to be lower. This is likely because the children who used smartphones before turning 13 accessed social media more and were disrupting their sleep schedules. Children and teenagers need adequate sleep in order to have a stable development as their body’s and mind’s grow.
They’re also more likely to experience cyberbullying, negative relationships with friends and family. Lead study author Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist of Sapien Labs, the nonprofit that runs the survey, explained that the sata they used was based on self-reports in a survey of nearly 2 million people in 163 countries.
“This calls for urgent action limiting access of children under 13 to smartphones as well as more nuanced regulation on the digital environment young people are exposed to.”
The results motivated the researchers to call for global restrictions to prevent children younger than 13 from using both smartphones and social media.
In the study, the team of researchers pointed out that previous studies focused on how smartphone use is related to anxiety, depression, and other mental health ailments, while this one was focusing more on symptoms that aren’t as commonly looked at. These symptoms include emotional regulation and self-worth which are extremely significant for a child’s development and confidence.
“The results were self-reported, which means they weren’t independently verified by researchers. In addition, the study can’t pinpoint what types of smartphone use drove the results and can’t account for how they might change as technologies evolve,” Thiagarajan said to CNN.
Additionally, research from the UK showed that using social media during puberty is connected to lower satisfaction with life as one grows up. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt also recommended waiting until 16-years of age to let kids use social media.
In this day and age, however, keeping your kids off social media can seem like an impossible task, however, it’s integral that parents take this issue seriously. Productive conversations need to take place within the household regarding the dangers of social media and the impact it can have on one’s mental health.
Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at Princeton Psychotherapy Center in New Jersey who was not involved in the study, suggests looking into community groups and programs that create pledges and provide information regarding this issue, so parents and kids can be well informed when going into these conversations.
“Check to see if there are support groups in your community, and if not and it feels important to you, consider starting one. Even if people aren’t already talking about it, they may be relieved if you start the conversation.”
Thiagarajan also suggests that “parents could seek schools for their children with stronger policies around smartphones on campus,” and push for better policies within their kids’ schools that may not have a strong enforcement over using smartphones during school hours.
“[That’s why parents] could also be a more active voice in the debates on regulation,” Thiagarajan said.
Greenberg also told parents who have already let their children use smartphones who are under 13 and are worried overall about their development not to worry.
“If you are concerned but don’t notice any of these symptoms in your child, you can still talk to them to let them know that some people struggle with anxiety, low self-worth and intense emotions,” she said.
“You can let them know that there is help available should they ever need it, and you can invite them to come to you if they are ever struggling or need support.”
She also recommends seeking out a licensed professional if parents notice certain concerning changes in their child. “You may feel stuck when you read things like this because you feel like you can’t go back. Don’t be afraid to change course if you feel like what you’ve already done isn’t working for your child or for your family,” she said.
“Parents can think about options such as using parental controls, switching to a flip phone, or deleting apps or features. Of course, kids may not react pleasantly to such a change, but don’t let that stop you from acting if you think it would benefit them,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg also provided a potential scripted outline that parents can use when having these conversations with their kids, for example:
“When we first gave you your smartphone, there were things we didn’t know about how it might impact you. There are a lot of scientists and doctors who are doing research on the effects smartphones are having on kids, and we’re learning a lot more than we knew before. We have to make some changes because we want to make sure that we’re doing the healthiest thing for you.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
