Tara Thiagarajan,  Researcher   -  Study FindsStephan: The internet is a sewer of weaponized misinformation and, as this study shows, for children younger than high school -- particularly young girls -- it is so dangerous it may result in their suicide. Why? Because, as my wife and daughter recently told me, little girls form cliques and can be quite nasty to girls who aren't in their clique. Another problem is boys from 13 on who create fake porn about girls in their class, or girls who reject them. And, as this report describes, there are other dangerous reasons as well. In sum though, one thing is clear: Children younger than high school should not be given smartphones, or have internet accounts. If you have such children, or know someone who does, please alert them to this study, or take it seriously yourself. Credit: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels In A Nutshell Study tracked over 100,000 people aged 18–24 to examine the effects of childhood smartphone ownership on adult mental health. Those who got smartphones before age 13 showed much higher rates of suicidal thoughts, aggression, and emotional struggles. Girls were especially affected, with 48% of those who got phones at age 5–6 reporting suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% at age 13. Researchers urge policy changes, recommending age restrictions and mandatory digital literacy training to protect developing minds. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — Nearly half of young women who received their first smartphone at age 5 or 6 now report having suicidal thoughts, compared to just over a quarter of those who waited until 13 to get their device. A sweeping new study tracking more than 100,000 young adults across the globe reveals a troubling pattern that should alarm every parent: the younger children are when they first own a smartphone, the worse their mental health becomes by early adulthood. The research, published this month in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, shows overall mental wellbeing scores [...]

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