00:00Most parents think that around 12 years old is the right age for their children's first smartphone.
00:05New research suggests it might be one of the most sensitive ages,
00:09and smartphone ownership at that age might make kids sick.
00:12The research shows 12-year-olds who own a personal smartphone
00:15are more likely to develop eating disorder symptoms like binge eating.
00:20It might come from content focused on good looks, social comparison,
00:24toxic communities, and disrupted sleep.
00:27That matters because 12 is about the age when body image and peer approval are becoming much more important.
00:34It's not the first study that links early smartphone use to mental health risks.
00:38Research links smartphone overuse to increased odds of depression, anxiety, and poor sleep.
00:44The new study does show an important distinction, though.
00:47More kids interact with smartphone applications before the age of 12,
00:51but it's the ownership that seems to exacerbate any destructive effects.
00:55It's the age when parents might lose track of what their children are doing with their screen time.
01:00Do you have smartphone rules for your kids?
