The Trump administration issued a surgeon general’s advisory for parents, schools, and communities to limit screen time for children and adolescents, as a growing body of evidence suggests too much technology use can harm cognitive development and mental health. The 43-page advisory warns that exposure to screens often begins before a child’s first birthday and only increases with age, putting them at lifelong risk for negative health outcomes.Various officials within the Department of Health and Human Services, including Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., signed onto the new advisory report, published Wednesday and obtained by the Washington Examiner, that parents should do their best to limit young children’s screen time and continue to do so as much as possible as they grow up.
A surgeon general’s advisory carries the weight of a public service announcement about a growing societal health concern, containing recommendations rather than official rules or guidance. But the report comes without an official surgeon general in office since President Donald Trump took office last year.
Before the report’s release, Kennedy tapped Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, officially the director of National Health Communications for the Office of the Surgeon General, to effectively serve in the national health spokesperson role until the Senate confirms the next surgeon general.
