Surgeon General Issues Youth Screen Advisory as Teens Average 8 Hours a Day
Updated
Updated · KATU · May 20
Surgeon General Issues Youth Screen Advisory as Teens Average 8 Hours a Day
11 articles · Updated · KATU · May 20
Washington unveiled a new Surgeon General advisory on youth screen use, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging parents and schools to cut unnecessary screen time and "reclaim childhood."
The report says children ages 13 to 18 spend more than 8 hours a day on screens, while 5 in 10 teenagers have experienced cyberbullying and 40% of children could be myopic by 2050.
Its "From Evidence to Action" guidance tells parents to delay early screen exposure, set screen-free times, avoid multitasking with devices and enforce household rules around use.
Kennedy framed the advisory as a broader push to move children from scrolling toward books, nature, creativity and friendship, while arguing parents cannot address the issue alone.
How can parents enforce screen limits when schools and social lives are online?
Are tech giants willing to sacrifice user engagement to protect children's well-being?
Could new laws force tech companies to redesign their products for child safety?