The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office has issued a new advisory highlighting the potential harms of screen use among children and adolescents, emphasizing both physical and mental health concerns linked to excessive time spent on digital devices. The advisory, released recently, outlines the complex effects of screen exposure, noting that factors such as a child’s age, the content viewed, the purpose of use, and the duration all influence whether screen time is beneficial or detrimental.
Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, director of national health communications for the Office of the Surgeon General and a family medicine physician, underscored that while digital technology offers valuable ways for family connection and learning, extensive screen use can displace critical activities like sleep, physical exercise, and face-to-face interaction. The advisory points to a range of health risks including reduced sleep quality and duration, increased sedentary behavior, poor dietary patterns, and a potential rise in conditions such as nearsightedness.
Mental health effects are also a concern, particularly among adolescents, where higher screen engagement has been linked to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, body image issues, and other behavioral risks. In addition, children face threats from exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, misinformation, and pressures related to social status and appearance—risks that often infiltrate the home environment through digital access.
The advisory further highlights the subtle yet significant impact of screen displacement—the phenomenon where time spent on devices replaces essential real-life experiences. For example, a teenager staying up late scrolling on a phone may sacrifice sleep, and children watching videos indoors may forego outdoor play.
Recognizing that technology products are designed to capture attention, the Surgeon General’s Office calls for a multi-sector response rather than placing sole responsibility on parents. Recommendations include technology companies implementing safer default settings, stronger privacy protections, and greater transparency; policymakers enacting measures to safeguard children’s privacy and promote engaging offline activities; and schools adopting policies such as cell phone bans during instructional time to support focus and learning. Currently, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., have policies restricting student phone use during school hours.
The Surgeon General draws parallels to past public health shifts, citing how the cultural understanding of smoking evolved through combined efforts by families, health professionals, schools, businesses, and lawmakers. She cautions that while screens are not equivalent to cigarettes, cultural norms regarding digital use can and should change as awareness grows.
Practical steps for families suggested by the advisory include establishing phone-free meals, charging devices outside bedrooms overnight, and encouraging children to engage in activities like reading, play, and conversation, allowing space for unstructured time away from screens.
On September 1, the Department of Health and Human Services will convene experts as part of the “Live Real Life” symposium, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to further examine the impact of screens on youth and explore strategies for fostering healthier digital habits. Dr. Haridopolos expressed hope that the event will mark a shift toward broader societal commitments to ensure technology enhances rather than disrupts childhood development.
The Surgeon General stresses that the objective is not to eliminate screen use entirely but to balance technology with the varied experiences and interactions that characterize childhood, emphasizing that children have only one childhood but a lifetime to engage with digital life.