What age should you give your kid a smartphone?
A new global study has revealed that young adults who got a smartphone when they were 18 years or older had better mental well-being as adults.
According to the study, 74 per cent of females who received their first smartphone at age 6 experienced mental health challenges. But the number is not as alarming for females who received their first smartphone at age 18. The study revealed only 46 per cent of females who started using a smartphone at 18 suffered mental challenges.
For males, the percentage declined from 42 per cent at age 6 to 36 per cent at age 18.
“These findings suggest that there are long-term improvements in mental well-being for each year of delay in getting a smartphone during childhood,” said Chief Scientist Tara Thiagarajan.
“It's important that we continue to study this relationship and work to develop effective policies and interventions.”
However, Uae-based experts say that in a world that is becoming increasingly digital and centred on devices, children need to be given their first smartphones while in their teens.
“I usually recommend that from 13 years or above, (they) can have their own phone,” said Uae-based digital wellness coach Anisa Ismail. “12 years and under, shouldn't have their own phone but can have supervised access to one.”
According to Anisa, teaching children to use their devices responsibly is akin to teaching them how to brush their teeth. “Having a phone is a responsibility, one of which should be taught to young children,” she said. “The example I like to give is when children are young, parents teach them skills such as tying their shoelaces or brushing their teeth. It is a tedious process and one that takes time, but eventually, the skill is mastered. The same skill of how to best use a phone needs to be taught.”
She said that there should be some basic ground rules while giving youngsters devices. “The reason for the phone should be clear, the Apps downloaded should have a purpose, and the daily limit of phone usage shouldn't exceed 2 hours per day,” she said.
The right age to give youngsters their first phone depends on their developmental age, what the phone will be used for, if there will be any parental controls on it and the level of supervision, according to Dr Lauren Smith, Clinical Psychologist at Sage Clinics.
Dr Wafa Saoud, Clinical Psychologist at Sage Clinics agreed with Anisa. “When giving children their first phone, parents must take measures to promote responsible and safe usage,” she said.
Dr Wafa and Dr Lauren shared a checklist for giving youngsters a phone:
1. Establish clear guidelines and boundaries for phone usage, such as setting time limits and identifying technology-free zones.
2. Educate children about online safety, including the importance of protecting personal information, avoiding sharing inappropriate content, and understanding the potential consequences of their digital actions.
3. Installing parental control software to monitor and restrict access to age-inappropriate content and agreeing to regular supervision and what this entails with your child.
4. Encourage open and ongoing communication with children about their digital experiences, addressing concerns, and fostering healthy online habits.