Kids who use smartphones at a young age have worse mental health. Here's the best age to give them a phone

Low angle view of boy looking at digital tablet while lying with sisters using mobile phone on bed at home (Credit: Getty Images)

Earlier this week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared that social media poses a ““meaningful risk of harm to children” in his latest advisory. Now, a global study of nearly 30,000 young adults shows a strong correlation between the age at which children receive their first smartphone and the status of their mental health. The study also found that trends of lower self-worth, motivation and resilience were stronger among females compared to males

“In the study, participants who got their first smartphone before age 10 are doing worse, on average, than those who didn’t get one until they were in their teens. The benefits of waiting until high school for smartphones are undeniable,” Dr. Jessica Gomez, executive director of Momentous Institute who was not involved in the study, said in an email to Fortune.