Latest news with #smartphones
CBS News
18 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
The risks of smartphone use for kids under 13
New research published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities suggests kids who get smartphones before age 13 face significantly higher risks of mental health problems. On a summer day in Champlin, many kids are busy running, playing and swinging in the park. "I think it's important for them to just still grow up without the constant electronics," said Milaniya Oayenyagra, a mother of three from Rogers. Countless others are at home absorbed in their smartphones and social media. Almost two-thirds of kids say they were 10 or younger when they got their first smartphone. "We see anxiety increasing, negative body image increasing, we see thoughts to hurt self," said Dr. Joshua Stein, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical director at PrairieCare. Stein admits it's a tricky world for parents to navigate. "Even as parents, we're just trying to catch up and understand our own use and our own patterns, and I think it's a really good chance to start that conversation now wherever you're at, even if you have to claw back some of these privileges." Stein says if you feel like what you've already done isn't working for your child or your family, make changes, like adding parental controls, setting time limits and eliminating use close to bedtime. He also adds there are red flags to look for that may indicate a problem online. "If all of the sudden when they come off their phones, they're irritable, they're agitated or if they start to just all of the sudden not use their phone at all," he said. "Sometimes it can be that they're being bullied, sometimes it can be that they're frustrated, but other times it can be that they're being preyed upon." Regular check-ins, where you ask if there is anything online that makes your child feel sad or uncomfortable, can help you gauge their mental health and open the door to suggest tech-free activities. "Parents need to make sure they're providing their young kids that opportunity to make play, that it's OK for them to be bored and it's OK for your older teenagers to be bored, too, and to figure out how to connect and have fun with one another," he said. Stein suggests families use the free Family Media Plan provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It helps keep track of social media usage and set family priorities.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kids who own smartphones before age 13 have worse mental health outcomes: Study
Children, especially girls, who own smartphones before they are 13 years old may have worse mental health outcomes when they're older, a new study suggests. The study, published Sunday in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analyzed self-reported questionnaire results from more than 100,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The questionnaire asked respondents about mental health symptoms, such as having aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. Those who were given smartphones at an earlier age were associated with worse mental health outcomes for every year of smartphone ownership before the age of 13. Early smartphone ownership was associated with feelings of lower self-image and lower self-worth in both girls and boys. Girls reported lower emotional resilience and lower confidence, while boys reported feeling less calm, less stable and less empathetic. "The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world," Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study's authors, told ABC News in an emailed statement. About 48% of young women who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% of females who had smartphones by 13 or older. In young men, 31% of those who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts and 20% of males who had smartphones by 13 or older reported having severe suicidal thoughts. Cellphone bans in schools take center stage amid mental health crisis Study authors attributed the differences between young women's and young men's mental health symptoms to social media usage. Other factors that seemed to impact mental health outcomes were cyberbullying, poor sleep and poor family relationships. The study's authors recommended restricting smartphone and social media access for kids under 13, promoting digital literacy education and corporate accountability. "Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things," Thiagarajan added. ABC News' Dr. Tara Narula also said on "Good Morning America" Monday that limiting kids' access to social media appears to be a key step in protecting children and their mental health outcomes. "The longer we can push off allowing our kids to be on social media, we are learning, the better," Narula said. "I think lots of families are getting creative … landlines …. flip phones for kids [are] maybe an option so that they can have access to communicating without all the other things that come with smartphones." Social psychologist says kids shouldn't have smartphones before high school The study's findings come amid an effort led by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "Anxious Generation," to limit kids' smartphone use due to the impact on their mental health. Haidt has proposed setting nationwide "norms" or guidelines, including not giving children a smartphone before high school, no social media before age 16 and establishing schools as phone-free zones. Pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert also recommended that parents demonstrate to children how to use smartphones responsibly. "Children watch everything you do -- and that doesn't stop until they leave your house," Burgert told ABC News via email. "Connect authentically and meaningfully for a few minutes every day, and show your children that the humans we live with are more important and worthy of our attention than our phones." The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends families follow the 5 C's of media use, including teaching kids and teens how to be safe online, since content and advertisements may be targeting an older audience. Child - Consider your child and their personality. What media are they drawn to and how do they react to it? Content - Consider the content of the media your child consumes. Encourage them to consider good media sources. Calm - Help your child learn how to manage their emotions, including without the help of media. Crowding out - Consider what your family would like to spend more quality time doing, besides consuming media. Communication - Discuss media with children early and often and encourage learning digital literacy. Solve the daily Crossword
GSM Arena
a day ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Forecast: Samsung to stay #1 in foldables, but its lead over Huawei will shrink significantly Comments
Forecast: Samsung to stay #1 in foldables, but its lead over Huawei will shrink significantly Comments
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
The ultra-cheap Moto G 5G (2024) is 30% off in Amazon's latest deal
High-end phones are attractive with their premium design, powerful processors, and impressive cameras. But let's face it: not everyone wants to cough up over $1,000 for a new smartphone. Fortunately, there are plenty of ultra-budget-friendly alternatives that meet your everyday needs and fit within a budget price range. Take the Moto G 5G (2024), for example. $60 off (30%) The Moto G 5G (2024) is an affordable Android phone that's ideal for users on a tight budget, especially with Amazon's latest sale. Right now, you can get this device for 30% off, which brings it to an even more budget-friendly price. Buy at Amazon $25 off (13%) If you're looking for a better-looking display, improved camera performance, and longer software support, the Galaxy A16 5G is a top alternative. This device is 13% off at Amazon right now, saving you $25. Buy at Amazon This fella supports 5G connectivity, boasts a smooth display, and lasts quite a bit per charge. The best part? It costs just under $200, making it a solid no-nonsense daily driver. But now, this Android phone is simply irresistible, as Amazon sells it for a whopping 30% off its original price. Sure, Moto G 5G (2024) device already has a successor, but as you can see from our Moto G (2025) review, it doesn't exactly offer enough meaningful upgrades over the 2024 model. However, if you're looking for a sub-$200 phone with a Super AMOLED display and multi-year software support, the Moto G 5G (2024) isn't the ideal fit. The Galaxy A16 5G, on the other hand, boasts an OLED screen and six years of OS upgrades, plus it's 13% off at Amazon right now. But if you're after a no-frills experience that costs less than $150, the Moto G 5G (2024) is a standout deal at $60 off. For just under $140, this bad boy delivers a decent visual experience with its 6.6-inch 120Hz display. Performance is admirable, given its affordable asking price. Sure, its Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip won't run demanding gaming titles smoothly (or at all). But for basic tasks like browsing, casual streaming, or light multitasking, the phone holds up just fine. While it's a perfectly suitable everyday phone, the Moto G 5G (2024) doesn't excel in terms of software support and camera prowess. The device gets one major OS upgrade (nothing beyond Android 15). As for the camera, its 50MP main sensor, which lacks optical image stabilization, delivers good-looking results mainly in well-lit conditions. Overall, the Moto G 5G (2024) delivers a no-frills experience that users on a tight budget might appreciate. And now that it's 30% off, it's an even easier choice. Alternatively, if you prefer better camera performance and multiple OS upgrades, the Galaxy A16 5G is a great, slightly pricier alternative.
GSM Arena
a day ago
- GSM Arena
Galaxy Z Fold7's display can fold 2.5x times more than the Fold6, test reveals
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is the thinnest in its lineup, yet it's also more durable than its predecessor. The Fold7's folding display was certified to last more than half a million folds - 2.5 times (or 85%) more than what its predecessor achieved in a durability test last year (200,000)! Certification company Bureau Veritas completed the 500,000 folds after which the Galaxy Z Fold7 remained fully functional! The testing was done over 13 days at 25°C (77°F), simulating over 10 years of average daily use - 100 folds per day. That also translates to over 6 years of heavy use - 200 times a day! Samsung achieved the impressive jump in durability with a combination of clever hardware features. The outer Ultra Thin Glass layer atop the display is 50% thicker, and there's a newly formulated high-elastic adhesive that binds it to the OLED underneath, which provides 4x the recovery performance. Then there's a new flattening structure that spreads shock evenly across the display, and it all sits on a high-strength titanium plate. All of that's to say that despite being thinner and lighter, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is much more durable than the Fold6. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Source
