This Chart Shows Why You Should Watch You Kids And Not Your Smartphone

This chart shows why you should put down your iPhone and watch your kids

Ana Swanson

Nov. 14, 2014

Smartphones increase the likelihood of getting into car accidents, being hit while crossing the street, and generally bumping into bushes, walls and light poles. Now they may be endangering children, too.

A new study by Craig Palsson of Yale University concludes that the 10% increase in nonfatal injuries to children under five involving consumer products that occurred between 2005 and 2012 was at least partly due to smartphones distracting parents. His research finds a close correlation between this increase and the share of nearby hospitals that had 3G coverage.

The chart above plots the logged number of nonfatal injuries involving consumer products to children under five on the left axis in green, and the share of hospitals with 3G coverage on the right axis in orange. Both have seen a noticeable increase since 2007.

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