When should a child get a smartphone – the shocking answer from science

A new study has found a link between early smartphone ownership (by age 12) and an increased risk of eating disorders in adolescents. Among 70% of participants who got a device by age 12, 24% experienced symptoms of eating disorders by age 14, compared to 16% among peers without a phone. The main trigger is identified as harmful content on social media.

A new large-scale study, reported by Futurism, has found a statistical link between early smartphone ownership and the development of eating disorders in adolescents. Scientists analyzed data from thousands of American teenagers and found that about 70% of participants (over 6,200 people) had their own smartphone by age 12. By age 14, approximately 24% of early smartphone owners had experienced at least one symptom of an eating disorder, compared to 16% among teenagers without a phone. The most common symptom was binge eating. Researchers identify harmful content from social media as the main trigger, where children are constantly exposed to imposed beauty standards. Teenagers with early smartphones are twice as likely to start judging their self-worth by weight, and 50% more likely to resort to dangerous compensatory methods, including self-induced vomiting. Adolescent medicine specialist Jason Nagata explains that constant comparison with bloggers and influencers has a destructive effect on self-esteem. The authors emphasize the critical importance of the age at which a device is obtained, although total screen time also plays a role. The study notes a statistical link, not a direct causal relationship. Experts advise parents not to rush into buying a phone: delaying access to a smartphone by even six months or a year could significantly reduce health risks for the child.