Smartphones lead to “suicidal thoughts, low self -esteem and aggressiveness” in children under the age of 13

According to a new global study, children should not have access to smartphones before the age of 13.

According to the study published in the Journal of the Human Development. However, Capabilities, those who used smartphones before the age of 13 are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, poor emotional regulation, low self -esteem, aggressiveness and a detachment of reality.

Girls are more affected by the use of smartphones than boys9.5 % of women interviewed being considered “in difficulty” with their mental health. Consequently, compared to 7 % of men, whatever their country of origin, adds the study.

Children under the age of 13 are more likely to suffer from sleep. Therefore, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to the study.

Limit smartphones and alcohol, according to researchers – Smartphones lead "suicidal thoughts, low

The study relied on the mental health profiles declared by 100,000 young people aged 18 to 24.

The study smartphones lead “suicidal thoughts, low was conducted by a team from the non-profit research association Sapien Labs.

The researchers have generated an overall “mental health” score for each profile on the basis of 47 social. However, emotional, cognitive and physical functions.

The mental health scores deteriorate as the child has access to a smartphone, continues the study.

For example. the score of a child who received a phone at the age of 13 went from 30 to one for those who received a phone at the age of five.

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The results were worse for the 18-20 year olds than for the 21-24 year old cohort in the responses. which could be due to prolonged exposure to screens during the COVVI-19 pandemic, according to the study.

However, the results of using smartphones in those under 13 are consistent despite the geographic and social differences.

The main author of the study. Tara Thiagarajan, said that she would like the use of smartphones smartphones lead “suicidal thoughts, low to be limited to those under 13 and that she will be regulated by government authorities, like alcohol and tobacco. This measure should be accompanied by restrictions on social media platforms. as well as “compulsory education for digital culture and business empowerment”.

“I was first surprised by the extent of the results,” said Thiagarajan.

“However. if we think about it, it seems logical that young development minds are more compromised by the online environment, given their vulnerability and their lack of experience in the world”.

What are the regulations already in place against mobile phones?

Until now. most mobile phones have taken place in the European schools (article in English)with partial prohibitions in the classes FrenchDutch, British, Italian, Hungarian, Spanish, Irish, Swedish, Belgians, Greek, Lettonne, Luxembourg and Finnish.

Some of these countries. including Francethe Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg and certain Spanish regions, completely prohibit the use of mobile phones in schools, at any time of the smartphones lead “suicidal thoughts, low day.

Other European countries, such as Denmark, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Portugal, also plan to further restrict the use of mobile phones.

Regarding social media. the French digital minister and artificial intelligence has also proposed to prohibiton a European scale, the use of social media at under 15.

Several European laws (article in English)such as the Digital Service Act. the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the General Data Protection Regulations, contain provisions aimed at protecting children from detrimental content and protecting their data.

Last month. EU legislators voted in favor of The criminalization of images of children’s abuse generated by AIonline grooming, livestreaming, sexthorion and age of consent.