Mobile Phone Ownership Linked to Lower Reading Skills in Children

A study by UCLA psychologists found that primary school students who owned mobile phones performed worse on reading comprehension tests, regardless of whether they brought their phones to school or not. The researchers suggested that parents should avoid giving children their own mobile phones during primary school to improve reading skills. However, the study also found that for children from homes where English is not the primary language, using a mobile phone for texting at an early age can improve reading comprehension.