Children who receive smartphones before age 12 face increased risks of depression, obesity and poor sleep, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 10,500 children in the largest long-term study of brain development in the United States. The findings show a clear pattern: the younger children were when they received their first phone, the greater their health risks became.
The study examined 12-year-olds and found that those who got smartphones at a younger age were more likely to experience multiple health complications. The median age for receiving a first smartphone among study participants was 11 years old.
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