ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) \u2013 In this day in age, smartphones are everywhere.<\/p>\n
Now, local health professionals are encouraging parents to create a family media plan<\/a>, setting screen-use boundaries and priorities. <\/p>\n A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/a> shows increased screen time among children under 13 is linked to suicidal behaviors.<\/p>\n For many families, smartphones are a part of everyday life. <\/p>\n Children use them to communicate with parents, for entertainment, and to study, but health professionals say smartphones also come with a lot of risk, especially for a developing brain.<\/p>\n With 4,285 children averaging around the age of 10, the study showed that one-third of the participants are addicted to social media or smartphones beginning at age 11.<\/p>\n The study findings also indicate that increased smartphone addiction is associated with a higher risk of suicide-related outcomes compared to those who have less screen time.<\/p>\n