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The US administration has raised the alarm about the impact that excessive screen use can have on children and adolescents, calling the phenomenon a serious public health concern in the United States. In a new advisory released by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), authorities warn that uncontrolled use of phones, social media, video games and other digital devices can negatively affect the mental and physical health of young people.
The report notes that screen exposure often begins before a child's first birthday and gradually increases with age. According to data included in the advisory, adolescents spend an average of four or more hours a day in front of screens, while nearly half of them admit to losing control over the time they spend on their mobile phones. In many cases, the report says, young people spend more time in front of screens than they do sleeping or attending school.
US authorities warn that excessive screen use is linked to poorer sleep quality, reduced school performance, less physical activity and a weakening of face-to-face social relationships. The report also mentions that uncontrolled use of social media and digital devices can create addictive-like behaviors.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said social media is just one part of a broader problem that spans the entire digital ecosystem – from smartphones and tablets to online games, chatbots and apps. He said scientific evidence on the negative impacts of excessive screen time is mounting. He called the advice not just a warning but also an invitation to restore balance between real life and the digital world.
The report also includes concrete recommendations for families, schools, healthcare professionals, policymakers and technology companies. For children under 18 months, it is recommended to avoid almost all screen time. For children under 6 years old, less than one hour per day is suggested, while for the age group 6 to 18 years old, no more than two hours of use per day are recommended, not including school activities.
The advisory recommends that parents create family plans for digital media use, determining who can use electronic devices, at what times, for how long, and what content they can view. It also suggests that children complete schoolwork and extracurricular activities before using screens.
Schools are being asked to impose restrictions on the use of mobile phones during class and to reinstate the use of books and paper-based materials to reduce screen exposure. Meanwhile, technology companies are being asked to create stronger parental control tools and put up warnings about the harmful use of digital devices.
The report also presents five key strategies to limit the negative impact of screens: discussing healthy technology use within the family, modeling healthy behaviors by parents, postponing screen use in young children as long as possible, avoiding replacing physical activities with screen time, and periodically disconnecting from electronic devices.
However, not all experts agree with the report's general approach. Some researchers argue that not all screen use is harmful and that the impact varies from child to child. Professor Courtney Blackwell of Northwestern University said that scientific research does not conclusively prove that screen time itself causes harm at a population level. According to her, the way screens are used and the context of use matter.
Other experts point out that educational content can have positive effects and that some young people use the internet to create social connections and find emotional support. Also, many specialists warn that the focus should be more on cases of "addictive" use of devices, where children lose control and continue using despite negative consequences.
A study published in the scientific journal JAMA, cited in the report, found that problematic use of social media and cell phones among adolescents was associated with a two to three times higher risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
The new advice comes as the U.S. still does not have a confirmed surgeon general. The document was drafted by leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Trump administration has yet to finalize a nominee for the position. The report builds on former First Lady Melania Trump's "Be Best" initiative, which focused on the impact of social media and cyberbullying on children.
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