Why 12 May Be a Tipping Point for Screens

Through The Looking Glass: Parents know this question all too well: When should I let my kid have a phone? According to new research published in the journal Pediatrics, 12 appears to be a critical age. Children who got smartphones by age 12 face a higher risk of depression, obesity, and poor sleep.

The Study: Data was collected for more than 10,500 participants ages 9 through 16 over six years to assess whether the age they got a phone affected their health. 12-year-olds with phones had 1.3 times higher risk of depression, 1.4 times higher risk of obesity, and 1.6 times higher risk of insufficient sleep compared to those without phones. Those risks increased by about 10% for each year earlier in age.

The Takeaway: The experts point out the research isn’t meant to shame parents, but to provide more information about how more screen time and easier access to social media, late-night scrolling, and other practices might affect kids’ health.

Keep in Mind: The research proves only an association between phone use and poorer health outcomes, not causation, but it does add to the evidence that increased screen time generally isn’t great for kids’ mental and physical health.