Psychologist Patricia Greenfield: “As for reading ability, there is no safe age for children to start using a mobile phone”

A UCLA study of 106 primary school children found smartphone ownership was linked to lower reading-comprehension scores.

The pattern held regardless of age, school use, or family language, with a possible exception for non-English-speaking children using games and text messages.

Broader observational research also links early phone use with poorer sleep and a higher risk of obesity.

The findings could help families and schools weigh the tradeoffs of early smartphone use.