U.S. surgeon general issues screen-time advisory

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a surgeon general advisory on May 20 warning that excessive screen use has become a public health concern for children and adolescents. The advisory says early exposure to screens carries developmental and cognitive risks, and that heavy use is linked to poorer educational, behavioral and health outcomes in school-aged children. HHS paired the document with a toolkit for families, schools and community groups. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the action in Washington and said children now spend as much or more time on screens as they do sleeping or in school. ### What did the government actually release? HHS on May 20 published “The Harms of Screen Use,” described as a Surgeon General’s Warning on the harms of screen use, along with a companion toolkit on how to protect children and adolescents. The department said the materials are meant to raise national awareness about risks tied to excessive and harmful screen use among young people. (hhs.gov) The HHS website says a surgeon general advisory is used to highlight major public health challenges and suggest possible solutions. In this case, the agency said harmful screen use among children and adolescents has become a public health concern. ### Which screen habits does the advisory single out? HHS said adolescents average seven to nine hours a day on entertainment screens, and most report using devices right before bed. (hhs.gov) The department said what children encounter online, combined with excessive and sometimes compulsive use, is increasingly linked to real-world harm. CNN reporting carried by local outlets said the concerns include social media scrolling, nonstop texting and hours of video games. (hhs.gov) The HHS materials also list online exploitation, harmful or age-inappropriate content, substance-use promotion and dangerous viral challenges among the risks associated with screen use. ### What harms does the advisory say are tied to heavy screen use? (hhs.gov) The HHS advisory says screen exposure in early life is linked to poorer language outcomes. It says excessive screen time is linked to poor educational and health outcomes in school-aged children, while teenagers face additional mental health and behavioral concerns, particularly around social media use. Sleep is one of the clearest themes in the document. (abc17news.com) HHS said screen use can disrupt healthy sleep, which it described as fundamental to learning, mood, behavior, physical health and overall development. Scientific American, citing the advisory, reported that the warning links too much screen time to poor sleep, bad behavior, and less physical and social activity. ### Did officials give parents any concrete limits? (hhs.gov) STAT, which reviewed a draft of the report, said the advisory suggests possible limits of no screen time for children under 18 months, less than one hour a day for children under 6, and two hours a day for ages 6 to 18. ABC News reported after publication that the final advisory stopped short of recommending specific universal limits and instead emphasized broader behavior changes and family routines. (hhs.gov) The HHS toolkit itself organizes its advice around what it calls the “5 Ds”: Discuss, Do, Delay, Divert and Disconnect. The agency tells caregivers to delay screen exposure as long as possible in early childhood, create screen-free times such as mealtimes, avoid devices before bed, and offer offline alternatives including physical activity, sports and music. ### What are schools, doctors and tech companies being asked to do? (statnews.com) HHS said schools can reduce or ban non-instructional device use, strengthen digital citizenship education and create more opportunities for in-person engagement. STAT reported the advisory also encourages policymakers to expand parental controls, set age requirements for some platforms, fund research and support community programs that offer offline alternatives. (hhs.gov) Health providers are encouraged to ask about screen use at annual visits, according to STAT. The draft reviewed by the publication also said technology companies should design products for user well-being rather than engagement and consider warnings and prompts that encourage users to stop. ### Who is speaking for the surgeon general’s office? Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, identified by HHS as director of national health communications for the Office of the Surgeon General, said the government is calling for urgent action to protect children at home, in schools and across digital platforms. (hhs.gov) ABC News reported that Haridopolos was the architect of the advisory and that the surgeon general post itself remains unfilled pending Senate confirmation of a nominee. (statnews.com) The advisory and toolkit are now available on HHS websites, where families, schools, providers and community organizations can download the materials and follow the agency’s recommended steps for healthier screen use. (hhs.gov)