The serious effects of letting children use smartphones too early

(Dan Tri) - Many parents let their children use smartphones and social networks from a very early age, but this is a serious mistake.

The serious effects of letting children use smartphones from an early age

The image of children glued to the screen of smartphones or tablets has become very familiar in today's technological age. Many parents let their children use smartphones or tablets from a very early age, even viewing these devices as toys to keep children sitting still and not making trouble.

The image of children glued to smartphone and tablet screens has become very familiar in today's era (Illustration: Getty).

However, according to a research report recently published in the Journal of Human Development and Competence , allowing children under 13 to use smartphones and social networks can harm their mental health, reduce their ability to regulate emotions, create feelings of low self-esteem, detachment from reality and can even lead to suicidal thoughts.

The psychological impact of using smartphones and social networks too early will affect girls more than boys.

The study was conducted by Sapien Labs, a non-profit organization that studies the effects of modern life on human brain and mind health. Sapien Labs researchers conducted a survey of 2 million people in 163 countries.

Research shows that the earlier children are exposed to smartphones and social media, the lower their mental health and well-being.

“Urgent action is needed to limit children under 13’s access to and use of smartphones, as well as clearly regulate the digital environment to which children are exposed,” said psychologist Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, lead author of the study.

Sapien Labs researchers have called on parents globally to prevent children under 13 from using smartphones and social media, as a measure to protect children.

Another study by a group of Canadian scientists and psychologists, led by Caroline Fitzpatrick - Professor of Education at the University of Sherbrooke - shows that the use of smartphones and tablets in young children can cause disorders in the ability to control anger and frustration, leading to increased emotional outbursts in young children.

Professor Fitzpatrick said that children in their early years are still in the process of developing emotional regulation skills, but exposing them to technological devices such as tablets or smartphones early will affect this process.

Preschoolers who spend too much time on smartphones and tablets may not learn to control their emotions (Illustration: Adobe).

Billionaire Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, also shared his personal opinion that the most suitable age for children to use smartphones is 13 years old and he also applied this to his 3 children.

Children should stay away from social networks until they are 16 years old.

Research by Sapien Labs shows that one of the negative psychological impacts of smartphone use on children is early exposure to social media. This can lead to the risk of children being exposed to harmful content, being bullied online, or having unhealthy relationships.

Similar research from British scientists shows that using social media during puberty will reduce life satisfaction later.

Psychologists advise parents to keep their children away from social media, at least until they are 16 years old.

Of course, it’s not easy to keep kids off social media until they’re 16. It takes a dedicated parent who is willing to guide them toward other passions and interests away from the screen.

What to do if you let your children use smartphones and social networks early?

If after reading this article, many parents realize that they have let their children use smartphones and social networks too early and feel worried about it, they should change this as soon as possible.

“If you are worried, but do not notice any unusual psychological phenomena in your child, you can still rest assured.

“Talk to your child regularly to find out if they have problems with anxiety, low self-esteem, or difficulty controlling their emotions. Let them know you are available to help if they need it,” said Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at the Princeton Psychological Treatment Center in New Jersey.

Notably, many parents often soothe their children's anger by allowing them to continue using smartphones and tablets, which inadvertently creates a vicious cycle that makes children more "addicted" to electronic devices and less able to control their emotions.

Parents should not let their children use smartphones or tablets alone, but should be there to monitor and limit usage time (Photo: iStock).

So what can parents do to reduce their children's emotional outbursts?

Researchers say direct parent-child interaction is always the best way to help toddlers develop emotionally. If parents ignore interaction and completely entrust their children to electronic devices, it will cause long-term harm to children.

Psychologists add that if parents want their children to be exposed to smartphones and tablets, they should limit their usage time to a specific amount, such as 20 minutes of smartphone use or 15 minutes of tablet use per day.

In addition, children should not be allowed to use these devices on their own, but should always have an adult sitting nearby to supervise and explore useful content with them.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/nhung-tac-hai-nghiem-trong-khi-de-tre-em-su-dung-smartphone-tu-qua-som-20250724105924183.htm