An NYU mental health researcher recommends the optimal age to give a child a smartphone.

The debate among parents globally is when to provide their kids with smartphones, as research indicates that prolonged usage can negatively impact the mental well-being of children.

A study by Sapien Labs found that the earlier young people got their first smartphone, the worse their mental health was, based on data from 27,969 18-24-year-olds in 41 countries.

According to a study, 74% of girls who received their first smartphone at age six reported feeling distressed or struggling, while this percentage decreased to 52% for those who got their first smartphone at age 15.

At age 6, 42% of boys who got their first smartphone experienced distress or struggle, while this percentage decreased to 36% for those who received a smartphone at age 18.

In today's digital age, smartphones have become a crucial component of daily life. Many parents feel the need to provide their children with devices to monitor their location and maintain communication when they are away from home. However, the question arises: when is it too early to give children access to such technology?

According to Zach Rausch, a research scientist at New York University Stern School of Business and the lead researcher for Jonathon Haidt's No. 1 New York Times bestseller "The Anxious Generation," it is crucial to keep smartphones away from preteens.

"In the book, we recommend delaying smartphones in the U.S. until age 14, and social media until age 16."

He proposed phone-free schools from kindergarten through high school in the U.S.

The movement to postpone giving smartphones to children is gaining momentum globally through grassroots organizations.

The U.K.'s Smartphone Free Childhood and the U.S.'s Delay Smartphones both rely on the research and recommendations of Rausch and Haidt.

Despite the opinions of some academics and scientists, there is no definitive evidence linking smartphone use to poor mental health, according to psychology professor Christopher Ferguson. He believes that the current concerns are simply the latest in a series of moral panics that have occurred in the past, where older people have expressed fear and anxiety about new and unfamiliar technology.

Middle school is key

Rausch recommends the ages of 14 for smartphones and 16 for social media for several crucial reasons.

He explained that in the United States, the goal is to remove phones from middle school because it is a time of early puberty when individuals are already highly sensitive and insecure. Adding phones to this already challenging period would only make things worse.

Essentially, the preteen years fall within the typical range of Middle School, which encompasses grades six to eight and children aged 11 to 14.

This is the "period of highest vulnerability during puberty," Rausch said

In the seventh grade, which is approximately ages 12 to 13, there is the highest level of bullying among all grades. Therefore, postponing smartphone use can help mitigate the problem.

While Rausch acknowledged that the ages presented in "The Anxious Generation" are somewhat arbitrary, they aim to establish a shared standard that parents can adhere to and agree upon.

"By agreeing on a reasonable ask, such as delaying until 14, we can help ensure that children have access to personal devices at a younger age, which is becoming increasingly common among 10-year-olds and six-year-olds."