Smartphones are harmful for children: These days, the mobile phone era is in full swing. Parents often hand over their mobile phones to their children to keep them quiet. Let us explain how dangerous this habit can be.

These days, many parents hand over mobile phones to young children for seemingly no reason, but new research is raising concerns. According to one study, getting a smartphone at a young age of 12 could be detrimental to children's health.

1 /5

A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children who owned smartphones at an early age were more likely to have mental health problems, including depression, sleep deprivation, and obesity.

2 /5

This research is based on the data of more than 10 thousand children in America, in which it was observed that the sleep and mental condition of those children who had a phone before the age of 12 were more affected than those of others.

3 /5

According to the researchers, the younger children who received smartphones were to receive smartphones, the more severe their health problems were later in life. In particular, poor sleep habits and weight gain began at an earlier age.

4 /5

The study's lead author, child psychiatrist Ran Barzilay, says the research didn't even look at what children actually do on their phones. Simply having a phone appeared to have an impact on children's health.

5 /5

A one-year comparison also revealed that children who did not own smartphones performed better in mental health than those who did. Despite having a tablet or other device, the results did not change significantly.