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Infant smartphone use exceeds WHO guidelines in new study
A study published in the Mental Health Research Information (MIND) journal by the National Center for Mental Health reveals that over half of infants (50.98%) begin using smartphones before the age of two.
Among parents of 400 children aged 2 to 5, the most common age for starting smartphone use was 12 to 23 months (37.18%). The data also indicates a significant increase in usage during weekends, where the percentage of children using devices for 1 to 3 hours rose to 22.58%, more than double the weekday rate of 9.46%.
These findings contrast with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which advise avoiding screen exposure for children under 2 and limiting screen time to less than one hour daily for children aged 2 to 4. Experts warn that early exposure may impact physical play, language development, and caregiver bonding, though they noted that a direct causal link to specific developmental disorders has not been established.
Entities
National Center for Mental Health · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The WHO recommends avoiding screen exposure for children under 2 years old and limiting screen time to less than one hour per day for children aged 2 to 4. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com · www.mbn.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Smartphone usage time for children increases on weekends, with 22.58% using devices for 1 to 3 hours compared to 9.46% during weekdays. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com · www.mbn.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The largest group of respondents (37.18%) reported their child started using a smartphone between 12 and 23 months of age. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com · www.mbn.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] 50.98% of infants surveyed began using smartphones before reaching 24 months of age. www.jnilbo.com · www.imaeil.com · www.mbn.co.kr