{"id":29575,"date":"2025-09-20T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=29575"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:49:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:49:37","slug":"smartphones-before-age-13-harm-kids-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/smartphones-before-age-13-harm-kids-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Smartphones Before Age 13 May Harm Kids\u2019 Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In recent years, smartphones before age 13 have become a point of debate among parents, educators, and health professionals. With rising concerns over screen time, mental health, and learning outcomes, many families ask: Is early smartphone access safe?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global and local evidence suggests that smartphones before age 13 may harm kids\u2019 mental health, especially when use is unsupervised. While technology connects children to opportunities, it can also expose them to risks such as cyberbullying, sleep loss, and social media pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for family balance? Discover how to create a simple holiday routine for kids at home<\/strong>.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Age of First Smartphone: A Defining Moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The age at which children receive their first smartphone shapes their digital habits. Increases in social media use during early adolescence predicted higher depressive symptoms a year later.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This evidence suggests that the earlier children gain access, the higher the risks of negative emotional effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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