Having a cellphone before this age can lead to obesity, depression

It’s the age-old debate — at what age should kids get a cellphone?

The downsides of too much screen time are well-documented, with increased anxiety, eye strain and poor attention span among the chief concerns. Plus, there are safety threats like cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.

New research suggests the ages at which cellphones can be most harmful to youth health.

The study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, found that those who had a cellphone before the age of 12 were more likely to develop depression, obesity and poor sleep habits compared to those who didn’t.

And the younger kids were when they got a phone, the greater the risk of obesity and insufficient sleep.

Researchers evaluated data from over 10,500 children who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study — the most recent and largest long-term look at children’s brain development.

While the research doesn’t prove that getting a phone at a young age directly causes these outcomes, the findings, along with previous studies, suggest it could lead to less socialization, exercise and sleep.

A 2023 study found that of 11- and 12-year-olds who had an electronic device in their bedrooms, nearly 17% were buzzed awake by notifications.

Meanwhile, more than 80% of children between the ages of 11 and 17 don’t get the recommended amount of daily physical activity, thanks in part to an increased fixation on screens. Being sedentary can lead to poor health and social behavior in kids.

And since adolescence is an essential period for growth, these changes can have long-term effects on mental and physical health, according to researchers.

“When you give your kid a phone, you need to think of it as something that is significant for the kid’s health — and behave accordingly,” Dr. Ran Barzilay, lead author of the study and a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told The New York Times.

He pointed out that a “kid at age 12 is very, very different than a kid at age 16.”

A parent survey from October found that most kids between 11 and 12 have a smartphone so their parents can quickly reach them.

Notably, recent research is split on how much kids’ cellphone use actually affects their health, with some studies finding only minimal impact.

A 2020 review of studies found an inconsistent relationship between adolescent cellphone use and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

A study from Stanford researchers found that kids who got a phone before 11 didn’t show higher rates of sleep problems, issues at school or depression symptoms.

But more parents are opting to keep their kids away from phones to try to limit any negative effects.

According to a 2024 survey, as many as 3 in 4 Gen Zers blame social media for worsening mental health, reporting that using popular apps left them feeling more anxious and stressed.

While there’s no “right age” to get your child a cellphone, some experts recommend evaluating phone readiness on a case-by-case basis and determining how responsible and emotionally mature your kid is.

Parents should also take note of their own screen time, as long-term technology use can negatively affect babies and toddlers, including their social behavior.