Image Credit: Leon Neal / Staff / Getty Images 
Children who are allowed to use cellphones before the age of 12 are at a significantly higher risk of developing depression, obesity and poor sleep, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal Pediatrics, shows the risk increases the younger the child is, particularly with regard to obesity and disturbed sleep.
Children’s Health Defense reports, “The study authors conducted statistical analyses of data on more than 10,000 U.S. 12-year-olds in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, described as the ‘largest long-term look at children’s brain development in the United States to date.’”
“In addition to looking at 12-year-olds who already had cellphones, they also tracked 12-year-olds who didn’t have a cellphone at the beginning of the year but were given one by age 13.”
As one of the study’s lead authors explain, “By the time they turned 13, the ones who had gotten a smartphone in that year were struggling more with mental health and sleep compared to kids who still didn’t have one.”
The results persisted even when the researchers took into account the children’s mental-health and sleep problems from the previous year.
The new study focused simply on cellphone use, not the type of content that was being accessed.
There are clear suggestions that social-media use, in particular, is tied to negative health outcomes in children, especially depression and self-image issues.
In light of these suggestions, Australia is set to introduce the world’s first social-media ban for teenagers, which aims to prevent under-16s from using social-media platforms. Beginning this month, social-media companies will have to take “reasonable steps” to ensure teenagers cannot access their sites. Existing accounts must also be removed.
Other research has focused on the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted by cellphones.
🚨WaPo / Democrats Caught In New Treasonous Hoax!!!🚨
