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 agency advises parents to wait until children have turned 13 before giving them their own smartphone.
The purpose of the new advice is to promote better health among children and young people. According to the agency, premature use of smartphones can negatively affect sleep, physical activity, and social life. By limiting screen time, they hope to reduce the risk of mental health issues.
In addition to the recommendation regarding smartphones, the agency also suggests that children under the age of two should avoid screen time entirely. For older children, they emphasize the importance of parents being active and setting clear boundaries for how and when technology is used in the home.
The new guidelines are part of a larger effort to manage the rapid digitalization of society. The agency emphasizes that it is important for children to have time for play, physical activity, and face-to-face social interaction in order to feel as well as possible while growing up.