Public Health Agency: No smartphones for children under 13
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has presented new recommendations regarding children's use of digital media. The most significant news is that children should not have their own smartphone before they turn 13.
The agency emphasizes that digital development is moving quickly and that it is important to protect children from online risks. According to the new advice, smartphones can negatively affect children's sleep, concentration, and mental health if used too much.
Parents are now urged to be more restrictive with screen time and to have a better dialogue with their children about what they do on the internet. The goal of the recommendation is to provide children with a safer upbringing where physical activity and social interaction in real life are prioritized higher than digital devices.
The new advice is part of a larger effort to improve public health among young people in Sweden. The agency hopes that these guidelines will serve as support for parents who feel uncertain about when it is appropriate to introduce new technology into their children's daily lives.