WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to release a U.S. surgeon general’s advisory, urging families, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to limit children’s screen time. This information comes from a draft report reviewed by STAT.
The report, despite the absence of a Senate-confirmed surgeon general, calls for a collective effort from parents, schools, and government entities to alter how screens are used, highlighting that certain usage patterns “can pose real harm to children.”
The advisory outlines numerous recommendations for policymakers, industry, and parents but does not provide concrete steps or mandates to implement these suggestions.
For instance, the report suggests that tech companies could prioritize user well-being over engagement in their product designs. It proposes that these companies display warnings about the dangers of screen time before each use and encourage users to limit their usage. However, it does not detail how such changes might be enforced on major tech companies.
Titled “Surgeon General’s Warning on the Harms of Screen Use,” the report reflects bipartisan concerns about technology’s effects on youth mental health. This is not the first initiative from the surgeon general’s office on this issue; under the Biden administration, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy advocated for warning labels on social media and issued an advisory regarding its mental health risks for young people.
The new report, which does not reference the previous administration’s warning, admits that the understanding of screen use impacts is still developing but insists that action cannot wait for all questions to be resolved. It encourages young individuals to “Live Real Life,” echoing Kennedy’s “Eat Real Food” campaign unveiled in January.
Unlike a 2024 report, this new advisory suggests that schools can implement “bell-to-bell” phone restrictions, a practice already prevalent in many areas.
According to the report, healthcare providers should inquire about screen use during annual visits.
Policymakers are urged to create policies that provide parents with comprehensive controls over their children’s digital activities, establish age requirements for certain platforms, fund research on screen use impacts, and strengthen community programs offering in-person alternatives to digital engagement.
The report advises parents to delay introducing screen time to children as long as possible and to limit usage once it is introduced. It provides specific guidelines, suggesting no screen time for children under 18 months, less than one hour per day for those under six, and two hours per day for those aged 6 to 18. Additionally, it recommends that parents develop a “family media plan,” model healthy behavior, and remove devices from children’s bedrooms at night.
This advisory was partially led by Stephanie Haridopolos, who was appointed by Kennedy to fulfill the duties of a surgeon general in the absence of a Senate-confirmed nominee. Kennedy informed staff in an email that Haridopolos was granted the authority to issue advisories late Monday.
Mario Aguilar contributed reporting.
