Calls on smartphone use by under 18s to be cut

Ahead of the school holidays a global study of more than 10,000 parents shows nearly two-thirds (60%) are worried about their child’s social media apps and smartphone use with the impact on socialising, mental health and body image being at the forefront of concerns.

The average age a child gets their first smartphone is now just 11-years-old, yet more than half of parents regret handing over a smartphone to their child at such a young age, wishing they had waited longer.

The negative impact of social media apps and smartphone use is being highlighted by parents with almost half claiming a mobile phone has changed their child’s personality, with a third claiming their child has body image issues due to phones.

The research by HMD also shows two thirds (65%) of parents have concerns about their child’s phone use and the impact on their mental health, attention span or social confidence.

Ros spoke to Adam Ferguson, global head of Insight.

Photo by William Hook on Unsplash