(NEXSTAR) – Parents across the country are stocking up on holiday gifts, but a new study from the journal Pediatrics suggests a new cellphone could have unintended, dangerous consequences for some children.
The study looked at the emotional and physical health of 10,588 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study), along with the age at which they first obtained a smartphone. The ABCD Study describes itself as “the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States.”
The researchers behind the peer-reviewed Pediatrics study found that children who had a smartphone by the time they turned 12 years old were at greater risk of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep.
“Our findings suggest that we should view smartphones as a significant factor in teen health, approaching the decision to give a child a phone with care and considering potential impacts on their life and health,” Dr. Ran Barzilay, the study’s lead author and a psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a news release.
Smartphones are widely owned by children in America, with a Pew Research Center survey finding that 95% of teens ages 13-17 have one, as do nearly 60% of 11- to 12-year-olds and roughly one third of those ages 8 to 10, according to Barzilay.
For each additional year of cellphone ownership before the age of 13, the odds of poor health outcomes were greater, according to the researcher team – consisting of experts from Children’s Hospital Philadelphia; University of California, Berkeley; and Columbia University.
Even children who did not have a phone at the age of 12, but received one a year later, reported poorer mental health and sleep quality than kids of the same age who didn’t have a smartphone.
While the researchers did report a link between cellphones and health issues, the study doesn’t prove causation.
Barzilay also notes that the purpose of the research isn’t to scare parents away from buying their children phones, but to highlight that the devices play a role in the health of a child, and that age matters.
“A kid at age 12 is very, very different than a kid at age 16,” he told the New York Times. “It’s not like an adult at age 42 versus 46.”
So when is a child ready for a phone?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer, as the decision can depend not only on the individual child, but also the parents’ readiness to manage the new responsibility.
While a phone grants children greater independence and the ability to easily communicate with friends and family, the device can also open up apps and websites that aren’t safe for children.
“If you do decide to get a phone for your child, make the effort to know what kinds of features there are to support safe and positive media use,” Dr. Jenny Radesky, assistant professor in developmental behavioral pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School writes. “These may include parental controls, settings, filters, timers and other digital wellness tools are available on devices and apps. Set these up together with your child, and explain the reasons behind the limits and controls you choose for your child’s cell phone.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends talking with your child about family rules and expectations beforehand, and reminding them that a phone doesn’t mean access to social media – additional apps should be discussed individually.
For parents who are still unsure, the AAP also has a phone readiness quiz.
Barzilay said he hopes the takeaway from his study isn’t that phones are detrimental to the health of children, but rather a reason for parents to take thoughtful consideration of both the risks and benefits they bring.
“For many teens, smartphones can play a constructive role by strengthening social connections, supporting learning, and providing access to information and resources that promote personal growth,” Barzilay said. “Likewise, some families may view a smartphone as a necessity for safety or communication.”