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.

The study's lead author emphasized that parents should consider giving a child a smartphone as something sign

See Full Page