The fears of the effects of smartphones on the youngest seem to be confirmed. Seen by CNN, a study published in the Human Development and Capabilities Magazine Notes that mobile phones have a pernicious effect on children. It was led by an American-Indian research team of the Sapiens Labs.
The study in particular advises parents who avoid offering a mobile phone to children under 13 years. It is based on a sample of almost 100,000 young adults, now 18 to 24 years. The researchers were particularly interested in the age of obtaining the first phone.
Various symptoms
According to researchers, the more a smartphone is obtained before the age of 13, the worst will be the effects on mental health as soon as adulthood is the entrance. Therefore, an adult who received his first laptop at age 5 is much more inclined to present mental disorders than an adult who was at age 13.
However, the average age of obtaining the first laptop has never stopped decreasing in recent years. This age was 9 years and 9 months in France in 2023 according to mediametrie figures.
The use of the phone exposes the child to many deregulation. The publication indicates among them “access to social networks”, “cybernetic harassment”, “sleep disorders” or “deteriorated family relationships”. Then, the researchers found a correlation between these dangers and a variety of abnormal mental disorders.
The authors list a multitude of symptoms such as “emotional deregulation”, “aggressiveness”, “an detachment of reality”, “hallucinations” or “low self -esteem”. This can go as far as “suicidal thoughts” are related to 48% of women who received their first smartphone at age 5 or 6 (31% for men).
In all these symptoms, women are on average 120% more affected than men.
Recommendations to governments
Given this observation, researchers behind the study try to give the alert. They want governments to quickly take subject to protect young generations.
The study offers recommendations that “aim to preserve mental health during critical development periods.” Among them, it strengthens digital education, but above all the verification of age to access social networks, as well as to the prohibition of the latter at least 13 years.
The situation in France
In France, half of the children receive their first smartphone at age 11. According to the study, Western Europe is one of the regions most affected by deterioration in mental health, linked to the early obtaining of a mobile phone.
In June 2024, Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to ban children under 11 years old. “All experts say that screens addiction is the breeding ground for all difficulties,” he said.
Therefore, several clues are explored to reduce the harmful of smartphones towards the youngest. Recently, the French government has pledged to prohibit social networks under 15. You can trust the deployment of a proven age verification application in five countries of the European Union.
Source: BFM TV
