The consequences of smartphone use by children under the age of 12 have been revealed
By the age of 12, children who own a smartphone are more likely to experience eating disorders compared to their peers who do not have a phone. American scientists have found that social media can be a significant factor in this situation.
The consequences of a child under 12 having a smartphone have been revealed
American scientists have found that children who used smartphones before reaching the age of 12 are more likely to experience eating disorders.
To assess the impact of gadgets, the authors analyzed data from a comprehensive project on the cognitive development of American schoolchildren.
It was found that 70 percent of the participants — more than 6,200 adolescents — already owned a smartphone by the age of 12. Among them, the most frequently observed symptom was binge eating (9%). By age 14, nearly 24 percent of smartphone owners reported having at least one symptom, compared to 16 percent of those who did not have a phone at that age.
Researchers point to social media as the main reason for this. 12-year-old gadget owners were twice as likely to link their self-esteem to body weight and 50 percent more likely to try to lose gained weight through harmful methods such as excessive exercise or self-induced vomiting.
"When you compare yourself to influencers whose photos are meticulously selected, edited, and filtered, this can lead to increased body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, which can become a risk factor in the development of eating disorders," said study author Jason Nagata.
Although it was previously reported that each additional hour in front of a screen increases risks for adolescents, this study shows that the exact age at which the device is acquired is of significant importance.
According to experts, even a short break can help protect a child's psyche. Mitch Prinstein, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina (USA) who was not involved in the study, noted in an interview with CNN that delaying the purchase of a phone by even half a year or a year can reduce the risks.