Public Health Agency: No smartphones for children under 13
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has now presented new recommendations regarding children's use of digital media. The most significant news is that the agency advises parents against giving children their own smartphone before they have turned 13.
The purpose of the new advice is to protect children's health and well-being. The agency emphasizes that screen time can negatively affect sleep, physical activity, and social life if it is not limited. By waiting to provide a personal phone, they hope to reduce the risks of children ending up in inappropriate situations online.
In addition to the recommendation regarding an age limit for smartphones, the agency also suggests that children under two years of age should avoid screens entirely. For older children and adolescents, they emphasize the importance of a good balance between digital time and other activities, such as play and physical movement.
The new guidelines are intended to serve as support for parents in an everyday life where digital technology plays a major role. The Public Health Agency hopes that this advice will lead to a healthier digital environment for the country's children and young people.