Smartphones at 12 Predict Health Risks

A Pediatrics paper using the NIH‑supported ABCD cohort (2016–2022; n≈10,588) finds that children who already owned a smartphone by age 12 had materially higher odds of depression (≈31%), obesity (≈40%), and insufficient sleep (≈62%) versus peers without phones. The associations persist in a large, diverse sample and raise questions about timing of device access rather than mere aggregate screen time. — If ownership at a specific developmental milestone (age 12) increases mental and physical health risks, regulators, schools, and parents may need to rethink age‑of‑access policies, mandatory usage limits, and targeted public‑health interventions.