Whether to allow a child to have a cellphone is a decision that many parents face today.
As concerns grow about the mental health effects of technology—such as rising rates of depression, anxiety, and attention problems among young people—the choice has become far more complex.
However, new research suggests that the issue may not be whether to give your child a phone, but rather when your child is developmentally ready to have one.
The Science Behind the Right Age
A study by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia published in Pediatrics analyzed data of 10,588 children, 6,739 of whom owned a smartphone at age 12 and 3,849 of whom didn’t. Those with smartphones were 31 percent more likely to show symptoms of depression, 40 percent more likely to have obesity, and 62 percent more likely to get insufficient sleep compared with those who didn’t.
By age 13, the pattern continued. Kids who did not have a smartphone at age 12, but acquired one over the next year, were more likely to report serious mental health symptoms and insufficient sleep compared with those who still did not have one.
“Age 13 is often considered a developmental point for teens because it roughly coincides with the transition into early adolescence,” Dr. Evelyn Ashiofu, a board-certified child psychiatrist, told The Epoch Times. “At this age, children typically begin developing more advanced executive functioning skills such as planning and impulse control.”
Although the study focuses on the age at which smartphone ownership begins, it also raises a broader concern about early exposure to social media—a debate now moving beyond the research community toward government policies.
In 2024, Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which introduced a mandatory minimum age of 16 for social media use. Supporters argue that the law is a necessary safeguard to protect developing minds from harmful content and addictive design features.
Although the study shows a strong association between early smartphone access and later health challenges, researchers noted that multiple factors, including family environment and supervision, may also play a role.
“Although I understand that many parents wait until their child is a teenager until getting a smartphone, some [13-year-olds] or 14-year-olds may need extra support in safely using their smartphone,” Sarah Domoff, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University at Albany, told The Epoch Times.
“For youth with emotion or behavior regulation problems, more oversight and support will likely be needed.”
How Phones Affect the Brain
Smartphones are built to grab and hold attention. Notifications, endless scrolling, and social feedback can trigger the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and motivation.
For kids and teens, whose brains are especially sensitive to rewards and peer approval, that pull can feel even stronger.
In the preadolescent stage—typically ages 9 to 12—several neurodevelopmental processes are underway, such as the maturation of the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s decision-making center, Ashiofu said.
“This is responsible for planning, impulse control, decision-making, and increased limbic system sensitivity, which leads to stronger emotional reactivity, mood swings, sensory overload, and overthinking,” she said.
During the preadolescent stage, reward pathways are also sensitive, making children more susceptible to things that offer reinforcement, such as video games or “likes” on social media. Younger children also have less experience managing intense emotions and may rely on external stimuli, such as games and phones, to soothe or distract themselves.
“These pivotal brain areas are still developing, and if smartphones are introduced too soon, it can lead to disruption in these maturation processes,” Ashiofu said.
In contrast, adult brains are fully developed, especially the prefrontal cortex. The connection between logical thinking and emotional reactions is stronger in adults, which helps them pause before acting and better control impulses. Although adults can still be drawn in by reward-based technology, they’re generally better equipped to manage screen time and delay gratification, even though social media can still be highly addictive and challenging to regulate.
Meanwhile, excessive screen time is associated with a higher risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and suicidal tendencies.
A 2024 study suggests that people who use smartphones excessively may become more easily distracted because their brains do not use their attention networks as efficiently. Attention processing is the brain’s ability to focus on important information while ignoring distractions. This skill helps you concentrate, remember details, and respond to what is happening around you. The study helps explain why heavy smartphone users may have a harder time staying focused on tasks and filtering out irrelevant information.
Additionally, constant screen stimulation can affect cognitive development, language, social skills, attention, and sleep patterns.
Poor or disrupted sleep is closely tied to many of the mental health struggles kids experience, Ashiofu said. Late-night screen use, notifications, and blue light exposure can all interfere with quality sleep, affecting mood, behavior, learning, and overall well-being.
In other words, the question may be less about whether a child is allowed a smartphone and more about whether his or her brain is developmentally prepared to handle it.
What Parents Can Do
Parents may want to ask themselves a few questions before giving their child a smartphone.
“Ask yourself: How open is your child with sharing with you problems that may occur online?” Domoff said. “Do they have trouble socially or with impulse control? Does your family have a plan for how to respond if your child is experiencing harmful interactions online? These types of questions reflect different aspects of readiness and family practices for managing phone use.”
To reduce screen time, parents can use a system in which their child earns screen time by completing other tasks, Ashiofu said.
“This helps to put more limits in place for screen usage while simultaneously encouraging positive behaviors,” she said.
She also recommends ensuring that parents spend time with other structured and adaptive activities, such as outside time, recreational activities, sports, and creative arts. These activities promote mental health and well-being while replacing the time a child would have otherwise spent on a screen.
There are also things that a child can do to reduce screen time and ensure that he or she is ready for a smartphone.
“Some strategies kids can implement include blocking content that is upsetting or distressing, turning off likes to posts, as well as setting time limits on their apps to help with regulating use,” Domoff said. “We also recommend children [try] to stay off their phones around bedtime in order to promote healthy sleep practices.”
Some families may also consider alternatives before introducing a smartphone, such as a basic phone that allows calls and texts only. Gradually increasing access as a child demonstrates responsibility can help build digital skills in stages rather than all at once.
Ultimately, the decision to give a child a smartphone isn’t just about the “right” age—it’s about readiness, Domoff said.