What the research actually says
This isn't about fear, and it isn't a verdict on any one family. It's the evidence that makes waiting, or choosing a simpler device, a completely reasonable choice. Every figure below links to its original source so you can read it yourself.
For balance: the American Psychological Association's first health advisory (2023) stresses that social media is neither inherently harmful nor beneficial, and urges guidance, skills, and monitoring over a blanket ban. Read the APA advisory.
Delay smartphones
The Surgeon General's 2026 warning on screen use tells parents to delay giving children access to tablets, smartphones, and social media as long as possible. It names no age for a first smartphone, and notes parents can delay access to different devices by age.
U.S. Surgeon General (HHS), 2026A national advisory
The U.S. Surgeon General issued a formal advisory warning that, on current evidence, we cannot yet conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents, and calling for stronger protections.
U.S. Surgeon General (HHS), 2023Double the risk
The same advisory cites research that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face roughly double the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms.
U.S. Surgeon General advisory, 2023Nearly half, always online
Nearly half of U.S. teens say they are online almost constantly, up from about a quarter a decade ago, and 95% have access to a smartphone.
Pew Research Center, 20241 in 4 by age 8
Nearly one in four children now has their own cellphone by age 8.
Common Sense Media, 2025 census46% face cyberbullying
Almost half of U.S. teens report experiencing at least one form of cyberbullying, most often name-calling or having false rumors spread about them.
Pew Research Center, 2022Why the developing brain matters
This is the “why” behind a boundary, in plain terms. The effects below are associations reported by health bodies, not guarantees for any one child, but they help explain why waiting or going simpler is reasonable.
Still under construction
The brain keeps maturing into the mid-to-late 20s, and the prefrontal cortex, which handles planning, prioritizing, and making good decisions, is one of the last parts to mature.
NIMH, 2023Built to hold attention
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that designs like autoplay and intermittent rewards prioritize engagement, and that social media scrolls and video autoplay may make it harder for children to disengage.
AAP policy statement, 2026Sleep does the heavy lifting
Children who get enough sleep have a healthier immune system and better school performance, behavior, memory, and mental health. To prevent sleep disruption, the AAP recommends turning off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.
AAP (HealthyChildren.org), 2026Schools are drawing lines, too
A growing number of U.S. states have passed laws that restrict student cellphone use during the school day. The rules and the count change often, so the trackers below keep the current list. Check whether your state's rules also cover smartwatches.
You're not doing this alone
The Wait Until 8th campaign lets parents pledge to hold off on a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade, and the pledge only activates once ten families from your child's grade and school sign on, so no kid is the only one waiting. A basic call-and-text phone or a watch is still fine under the pledge.
Learn about the pledgeFigures reflect the most recent data published by each organization as of 2026 and are drawn from primary sources (U.S. Surgeon General, the American Psychological Association, Pew Research Center, Common Sense Media, Education Week, and Ballotpedia). This page is informational, is focused on the United States, and is not medical or legal advice.