As reported at Axios, according to a new University of Pennsylvania-led study, preteens who own smartphones are likelier to have depression, obesity and insufficient sleep than their peers,.
Roughly half of American kids own a smartphone by the time they turn 11.
Pediatric health groups have recommended appropriate screen time for youths, but there are no public health guidelines on the appropriate age for kids to first get a smartphone, the study says.
·Kids who owned a smartphone at age 12 were found to have
o 31% higher odds of depression,
o 40% higher odds of obesity
o 62% higher odds of insufficient sleep than their peers who didn't have one.