Risks associated with giving a smartphone to a child at an early age

Bangla Press Desk: Many children acquire their own smartphones before even reaching the age of 12. However, this can be detrimental to them. Research indicates that children who use smartphones are more likely to develop disordered or abnormal eating habits compared to their peers.
A study published in the medical journal *JAMA Network Open* analyzed survey data from approximately 9,000 young people in the United States.
Researchers state that smartphones can expose children to content that places excessive emphasis on physical appearance and body shape. This includes images and messages that may foster unhealthy attitudes toward food and body image.
Dr. Jason Nagata, the study's lead author and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, notes that giving a child a smartphone involves more than just handing over a device; it also alters the ways in which the child interacts with various forms of digital content and experiences.
The Right Age to Get a Smartphone
Nagata points out that previous studies primarily focused on the amount of time children spent using smartphones or other digital devices.
"It is not just whether a child has a smartphone that matters; the age at which they receive it is also significant," Nagata says.
Researchers further note that earlier studies have linked excessive screen time and social media usage among children and adolescents to various negative outcomes, such as depression, low self-esteem, and substance abuse (including drugs and alcohol). Previous research by Nagata’s team had also identified a link between screen time and a tendency toward overeating.
The researchers caution that while their study found an association between owning a smartphone at age 12 and the subsequent development of disordered eating symptoms, this does not imply that smartphone use directly causes eating disorders or such symptoms. In other words, the study suggests a potential link between the age at which children receive a smartphone and their subsequent dietary behaviors. However, further research is needed to understand the exact factors driving this relationship. Source: Samaa TV
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