The surgeon general’s office on May 20 warned Americans that many children are spending excessive time on screens and that screen time has been associated with problems such as difficulty paying attention.
“Early exposure to screens carries developmental and cognitive risks. Screen use in early life is linked to poorer language outcomes,” the advisory states, pointing to research that found that children who used screens more had poorer language skills.
Excessive screen time, the advisory states, has been linked to inferior educational and health outcomes in school-aged children, citing a meta-analysis that found that using devices was associated with depression and that using social media was linked to depression, substance use, and lower achievement in school.
While children of all ages face sleep disruption with too much screen time, teenagers are at serious risk of negative impacts of screen time, particularly social media, the Office of the Surgeon General stated, including using illegal drugs and engaging in aggressive behavior.
The advisory was issued, officials said, because “harmful screen use among children and adolescents has become a public health concern.”
“While screen use can have some benefits, the evidence of a range of risks to children’s overall mental and physical health is mounting,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a letter from the secretary that accompanied the advisory.
“This Advisory is not only a warning, but also an invitation for all of us to enjoy a broader world, beyond the confines of screens. Join us as we seek to scroll less and live best. Let’s turn our screens off and our brains and bodies on, so that we can live real life.”
The surgeon general’s office recommended that youth be cautious about what they share online, with an awareness that posts can be distributed to a wider audience than intended; track their screen time; take breaks; set boundaries; and focus on getting sufficient sleep, exercise, and healthy food.
The office recommended that families establish a media plan covering how to use screens, setting screen time limits, and removing devices from children’s bedrooms overnight. Screen time limits could be none for children younger than 18 months of age, less than one hour per day for children younger than 6 years of age, and two hours per day for 6- to 18-year-olds, officials said.
Parents should also consider modeling good behavior, such as avoiding excessive screen time and being present without screen interruption during meals and family activities.
Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, who is performing some of the duties of the surgeon general as the Senate considers President Donald Trump’s latest nominee, and other officials in the Office of the Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services worked on the report.
The last Senate-confirmed surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory in 2023 warning that social media can negatively affect children.