Giving Smartphones to Children at a Young Age Could Prove Costly: Major Study Findings

A new study has raised concerns regarding the negative effects of giving smartphones to children at a young age. Let us look at the precautions experts have advised.

Smartphones have become an integral part of people's lives. Everyone, from children to the elderly, relies on them today. From academics to online payments, most tasks can now be accomplished using a smartphone. However, prolonged smartphone use can prove hazardous for children. Experts have long advised caution regarding excessive screen time for children, and a new study has further highlighted this concern. Research indicates that the habit of excessive screen exposure during early childhood can impact a child's academic performance and memory later in life.

Scientists from Inserm and the National University of Singapore conducted a study to understand the link between screen usage and child development. They utilized data from 502 children participating in the 'Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes' (GUSTO) birth cohort study.

Researchers recorded the children's screen time at various ages. Subsequently, they assessed the children's literacy skills at age nine and their working memory—the ability to retain and utilize information briefly—at approximately age 10.5.

Published in the *World Journal of Pediatrics*, this study went beyond merely looking at total screen time. Scientists also investigated how the age at which a child begins using screens might influence their future. The results revealed that children who had high screen exposure—particularly around the age of one—exhibited weaker literacy performance later on. Additionally, their memory capabilities were adversely affected. Poor outcomes were also observed in children who experienced high levels of screen exposure around the age of six. According to scientists, this issue may also stem from the fact that children spend a significant amount of time in front of screens, leaving them with little time for activities that foster healthy physical development.

It is worth noting that playing, reading books, interacting with parents, and learning by observing their surroundings firsthand are crucial ways for children to learn. If screen time replaces these activities for extended periods, it can have an adverse effect on a child's development.

This is not the first study regarding screen time. In 2020, researchers from the University of Calgary analyzed 42 studies involving 18,905 children, examining the relationship between screen usage and language development in children.