12/03/2025
Preteens who own smartphones are more likely to face depression, obesity, and poor sleep than their peers, according to a new University of Pennsylvania–led study 📱😟.
Why it matters: About half of American kids own a smartphone by age 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.
What they found: Kids with a smartphone at age 12 had:
• 31% higher odds of depression 😞
• 40% higher odds of obesity ⚠️
• 62% higher odds of insufficient sleep 😴
The study analyzed data from 10,588 youths as part of NIH-supported research, and the effects were specific to smartphone ownership — not tablets or smartwatches.
Zoom out: Another study found that just a one-week social media detox boosted mental health for young adults .
The bottom line: "Smartphone ownership offers unique challenges as it may grant youth unfettered access to a world for which they may not be ready, without the discipline to effectively manage their own use," the study says.❤️📵.
Parents, take the Wait Until 8th Pledge today!
✅ Wait until at least the end of 8th grade for a smartphone.
✅ Need something sooner? Try a basic phone or watch (see our website!).
✅ When you do say yes, start slow — remove the browser & App Store.
✅ Delay social media until 16+.
You’ve got this, parents. We’re in this together.🙌
Sources: Axios and New York Times
The findings will be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal Pediatrics.
