Technology
Why parents may want to delay smartphones for kids
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Parents everywhere wrestle with one big question. What is the right age to let a child have a smartphone?
Tweens ask for one long before many adults feel ready. At the same time, researchers keep sounding alarms about how early access may shape health and behavior. Now, a large new study gives parents even more to think about.
Published in Pediatrics, the research tracked more than 10,500 children in the national Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. It found strong links between early smartphone ownership and higher odds of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep by age 12. The earlier kids got a phone, the greater their risk.
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What the study reveals about early smartphone ownership
The study compared 12-year-olds who owned smartphones with those who did not. Kids with phones were more likely to show signs of depression, carry extra weight and sleep less than their peers without devices. Researchers noted that these patterns held even after accounting for income, neighborhood, parental monitoring and other factors.
TEENS TURNING TO AI FOR LOVE AND COMFORT
Parents can lower these risks by delaying devices, setting limits and keeping phones out of bedrooms at night. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
They also looked at children who still did not own a phone at age 12. One year later, those who had finally received one showed more mental health concerns and worse sleep than those who still did not have a device. These shifts happened quickly, which raised concerns about how powerful the change can be.
Lead author Dr Ran Barzilay explained that parents should treat the decision like a real health milestone. A device changes how kids sleep, move and socialize. That combination may create more strain for a 12-year-old than for a 16-year-old who has more maturity and self-regulation.
Why age matters more than many parents expect
The research shows an association, not a direct cause. Yet the patterns match earlier findings. Kids with smartphones often stay up later, scroll more and move less. That mix can disrupt physical health and emotional well-being. Adolescence is a sensitive stage when small shifts in sleep or mood can have long-lasting effects.
Experts also pointed out how nearly every teen now has smartphone access. That makes the decision even harder for families who want to delay. Still, researchers say the data is strong enough to guide parents toward waiting when possible. Parents do not need perfect evidence to choose a slower timeline.
Pediatric mental health experts warn that a smartphone is not a simple tool. It opens the entire internet with no natural limits. Families need clear rules and protections and those steps require real work from adults. Many parents feel pressure to hand over a device early, yet the expert urged families to trust their instincts when deciding the timing.
The sleep connection families cannot ignore
Most experts agree that phones disrupt sleep. A large share of preteens keep devices in their bedrooms, which leads to late-night scrolling and overnight notifications. Even the glow of the screen can make it harder to fall asleep.
Researchers who study adolescent sleep and screen habits have found that many 11 to 12-year-olds keep devices within reach at night, and a notable share report being awakened by notifications. Experts in this field urge parents to move phones out of bedrooms overnight because better sleep can reduce some of the risks tied to early smartphone access.
EVEN THE FUTURE KING DISCOVERS SMARTPHONES ARE A ROYAL PAIN FOR KIDS AND PARENTS
Researchers found that kids who got phones sooner showed more mental health strain within a year. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
The challenge is consistency. Many parents struggle to set rules when screens support school work, friendships and safety. Yet researchers stress that even one boundary, like no phones in bedrooms, can protect sleep and reduce stress.
How parents can use this information right now
No one wants to shame parents who already gave their kids a phone. Many families made the decision for safety or communication needs. The study does not claim that every early smartphone user will face health issues. It simply highlights patterns worth considering before making the call. Parents can use these insights to create a healthier plan.
1) Delay smartphones until children show readiness
Readiness is more than age. Look for consistent responsibility with chores, schoolwork and device-free rules on other screens.
2) Set clear family rules for screen time
Kids follow rules when they understand why they exist. Set limits that work for your household and adjust them as schedules and needs change.
3) Keep devices out of bedrooms at night
Nighttime use and notifications interrupt sleep. A “charging station” in the kitchen or living room solves this fast.
4) Talk often about online safety and emotional well-being
Short regular check-ins work better than one long conversation. Keep the tone open and supportive.
5) Use parental controls and app limits
Cell phones give parents straightforward tools to manage what kids can see and when they can use their devices.
TEENS FACE NEW PG-13 LIMITS ON INSTAGRAM
How to set healthy limits on an iPhone
Set downtime
- Open Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select Downtime
- Toggle on Scheduled
- Scroll down and set a schedule where only essential apps are allowed
Use app limits
- Go to Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select App Limits
- Tap Add limit to set daily time limits for social apps, videos and games
- Click Next and set the Time and Customize Days
- Click the Check Mark in the upper right-hand corner
Restrict adult content
- Open Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games
- Select Web Content
- Select Limit Adult Websites
How to set healthy limits on Android
Set digital wellbeing limits
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls
- Select Dashboard
- Choose an app
- Tap App Timer and set a daily limit
Enable Google Family Link
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Family Link app on the parent device
- Add your child’s Google account
- Set app approvals
- Restrict content through Filters on Google Play
- Enable location and activity reports
Turn on SafeSearch (blocks explicit results in Google Search)
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Google app or go to google.com
- Tap your profile photo
- Select Settings
- Tap SafeSearch
- Turn on Filter explicit results
Strengthen browser protection in Chrome
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Chrome
- Tap the three dots
- Select Settings
- Tap Privacy and security
- Select Safe Browsing
- Choose Enhanced protection
- Click the Left arrow to exit.
Experts who study youth mental health stress that the point is not fear. It is preparation. Thoughtful rules, controlled access and earlier boundaries can reduce risks associated with early smartphone ownership. Small changes make a big difference when kids are still developing the habits that shape their health.
Pro tip: Add device protection
Kids download apps, click links and explore online spaces that can expose them to harmful content or scams. Strong antivirus software adds an extra layer of protection by blocking risky sites and unsafe downloads. It helps keep their device safer while you work on healthy screen habits.
The best way to safeguard your kids’ devices from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing their private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all their devices. This protection can also alert them to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping their personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your kids’ Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Smartphones bring connection, opportunity and convenience. They also introduce stress distraction and real health challenges for younger users. Research keeps showing that age matters. A 12-year-old may not be built for the same digital world that a 16-year-old can handle with more confidence and self-control. Families do not need guilt. They need facts and support so they can choose what fits their values. As more data arrives, the message grows clearer. Slowing down may give kids the best chance to thrive online and off.
At what age do you think is right for a first smartphone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are all teasing Nvidia’s new N1X laptop processors
It’s the world’s worst kept secret that Nvidia is about to announce its own Arm-powered laptop chips at Computex this weekend, and now Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm are all openly teasing the announcement. The Windows and Nvidia GeForce accounts on X both posted “A new era of PC” earlier today, and now Arm has followed up with an identical post.
All three posts include coordinates pointing to where Computex is hosted in Taipei. Nvidia is holding a Computex keynote in Taipei at 8PM PT / 11PM ET on Sunday night, where it’s rumored to be announcing its new N1 and N1x laptop chips.
These Arm-powered Nvidia processors have been long-rumored, with reports earlier this year suggesting that both Lenovo and Dell have been preparing new laptops with the N1X chips. We first heard rumors about Nvidia’s laptop processors in 2023, and Dell CEO Michael Dell hinted at the possibility of an AI PC with Nvidia during an interview in 2024.
Nvidia’s entry into Windows on Arm will mean Qualcomm will no longer have an exclusive license for Microsoft’s Windows 11 Arm variant of its operating system. That’s good news for laptop competition, even if Qualcomm is trying to keep entry-level laptops affordable with its new Snapdragon C platform.
Technology
Hyundai to send 25,000 Atlas robots to the US
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Hyundai wants to bring humanoid robots into American car factories in a big way. The company is looking at a future where Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robots work alongside people inside U.S. auto plants.
These human-shaped machines can bend, lift, balance and move through spaces built for workers. That could change how cars get made. It could also raise new questions about factory jobs, safety and how much automation consumers are willing to accept.
Here’s what Hyundai is planning and why Atlas could become one of the most closely watched robots in American manufacturing.
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BMW PUTS HUMANOID ROBOTS TO WORK BUILDING EVS
Hyundai Motor Group plans to bring Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots into U.S. auto factories as early as 2028. (Hyundai)
Hyundai Atlas robots are headed to U.S. factories
Hyundai Motor Group reportedly outlined plans to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas robots developed by Boston Dynamics across Hyundai Motor and Kia manufacturing facilities. The plan appeared in investor relations materials tied to a JPMorgan Chase-hosted session.
The company also plans to build annual production capacity for 30,000 Atlas robots by 2028. Hyundai has not released a detailed public schedule for every plant. However, Kia CEO Song Ho-sung said the robots are expected to begin work in 2028 at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. Kia’s Georgia plant would follow in 2029.
Why Hyundai wants Atlas humanoid robots
Hyundai faces the same pressures as other automakers. It needs faster production, flexible factories and better ways to handle labor shortages. Humanoid robots may help because they can work in areas designed for people. That can reduce the need to rebuild a factory from scratch.
Atlas could also help with physically demanding jobs. Lifting, carrying and moving awkward objects can wear down workers over time. If robots take on some of that work, factories could become safer. Still, this technology will need careful oversight. A humanoid robot working near people must move predictably and stop safely when something goes wrong.
INDUSTRIAL EXOSKELETONS HELP WORKERS DO MORE WITH LESS STRAIN
Hyundai’s robot rollout could reshape auto manufacturing while raising questions about jobs, safety and automation. (Hyundai)
How Boston Dynamics trained Atlas to lift
Boston Dynamics recently showed Atlas handling a heavy object in a new technical demo. The robot squatted down, picked up a mini-fridge, rotated its torso and carried the object while keeping its balance. The company says Atlas learned this behavior through reinforcement learning and simulation training. In simple terms, the robot practiced in a computer world before testing the skill in real life.
Engineers changed the object’s weight, floor friction, grip force and placement during training. That helped Atlas learn how to adapt when conditions changed. That is important because factory work rarely happens in perfect conditions. Parts shift. Floors vary. Workers move around. Loads can feel different from one moment to the next. Atlas needs to react in real time, not freeze when a task changes.
What makes Atlas different from older robots
Many robots rely heavily on cameras. Atlas also uses proprioception, which means internal body awareness. That may sound technical, but the idea is easy to understand. When you carry a grocery bag and the weight shifts, you feel it. Your body adjusts before you think about it.
Atlas uses sensors and software to do something similar. It monitors balance, grip pressure, resistance and body movement as it works. Boston Dynamics says the new Atlas platform also helps reduce the gap between simulation and real-world movement. The robot uses a simplified hardware design, symmetrical limbs and only two actuator types.
Actuators are the robot’s joints and muscles. Hyundai reportedly plans to make more than 300,000 actuator units each year at U.S. facilities. That shows Hyundai wants control over the parts that make humanoid robots move.
Hyundai Atlas robots raise job questions
The biggest concern is obvious. What happens to workers when thousands of humanoid robots enter factories? Companies often say robots will take on dull, dirty or dangerous tasks. That may be true in many cases. However, workers will still want clear answers about training, staffing and job security.
The rollout could create new roles in robotics maintenance, safety monitoring and factory software. It could also reduce the need for some physically demanding jobs over time. That trade-off will follow Hyundai’s robot plan closely. The company will need to show that Atlas improves factory safety and productivity without pushing workers aside without support. For now, Hyundai has not provided enough public detail to answer those workforce questions fully.
HUMANOID ROBOTS HANDLE QUALITY CHECKS AND ASSEMBLY AT AUTO PLANT
Hyundai reportedly plans to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas robots across Hyundai and Kia manufacturing facilities. (Hyundai)
What this means to you
This story may sound like it only affects autoworkers or car companies. But it could eventually touch anyone who buys a car. If humanoid robots help factories move faster, automakers may adjust production more quickly when demand changes. That could affect wait times for popular models.
Robot-assisted manufacturing could also influence vehicle costs. Automation can lower some production expenses, although savings do not always reach buyers right away. The bigger shift may be trust. Consumers may soon ask how much of their vehicle was built by humans and how much was handled by robots. That does not automatically make the car better or worse. But it does change the story behind how that car reached your driveway.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Hyundai’s plan to deploy more than 25,000 Atlas humanoid robots in the U.S. marks a major shift for auto manufacturing. This is one of the clearest signs yet that humanoid robots are moving from demos into real industrial work. The Georgia rollout will be especially important. If Atlas performs well at Hyundai and Kia facilities, other automakers may feel pressure to speed up their own robotics plans. Still, the hard part starts on the factory floor. Atlas must work safely around people, handle unpredictable tasks and prove it can do more than impress in videos. The technology is exciting. The job questions are real. Hyundai now has to prove that both can be managed responsibly.
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Would you feel better buying a car built with help from humanoid robots, or would you wonder who got pushed off the factory floor? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Acer’s launching a Linux handheld for streaming your PC games
The Acer Nitro Blaze Link might run on Linux, but it’s no Steam Deck. Acer says it’s a “streaming-first handheld and companion device,” like a PlayStation Portal for your PC. Announced ahead of Computex on Friday, it’s launching in Q4 2026 with a 7-inch (1920 x 1200) display, Wi-Fi 6, just 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 8GB of eMMC storage. That’s technically not even enough RAM to run Stardew Valley, but the Blaze Link isn’t meant for playing games locally.
Logitech launched a similar handheld a few years ago, the Logitech G Cloud, that cost $350, included 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and ran on Android. It was a tough sell at that price considering that its performance was dependent on a good internet connection.
Acer hasn’t yet announced a price for the Nitro Blaze Link. But its specs suggest it could cost significantly less than proper handheld gaming PCs — which have been skyrocketing in price — potentially offering a more affordable and streaming-first alternative.
Correction, May 29th: The Nitro Blaze Link was announced ahead of Computex 2026, not at it.
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