Ever think how concerning it is to see so many children under the age of 10 having phones, and how often they are used? According to the National Public Radio (NPR), just over half of the children in the United States, 53 percent, own a smartphone by the age of 11. As children begin to use phones more often, their mental, physical, and social abilities will decrease and ultimately inhibit them from growing into the best version of themselves. 

  When children use phones at a very young age, their brain development slows down as they interact less with their peers and parents. This can also lead to a lack of attention in school or normal life, a lack of sleep, enhanced impulsivity, and a reduction in the ability to self-regulate their actions. When these effects happen, their social skills become less developed, and they are unable to adapt to their peers and the world around them.

  As children increase phone usage over time, they can start to experience multiple physical and mental changes in their lives. Phones can hurt anyone’s eyes no matter how long they are used. However, when they are used for long periods of time, computer vision syndrome, or digital eye strain, causes damage to the eye along with headaches. When children spend so much time on their phones, they stay in the same position for hours without physical activity. A lack of physical movement can lead children to become overweight, which could eventually lead to further health problems. Children can also become addicted to their phones, not wanting to do anything, except be on their phone. This addiction can ultimately lead to the children not participating in other activities, following them into their adulthood and limiting their job success. 

  Depending on the activities that the children are participating in on their phones, their mental health could also suffer. If the children are on social media platforms, they could be subjected to bullying, causing them to think less of themselves or try to fix themselves to conform to what other people want them to be like. This sets the stage for mental illnesses, such as depression or anorexia to develop. Either way, these illnesses should not happen to anyone at any age in their life, but especially not in a child’s life because they should be focused on just living healthy. 

  Considering all the information, children should not be able to have their own phones, especially at such young ages. Although it might seem fun to the children to be on their phones when everyone else is, it might not be the best decision for their mental, physical, and social health.