U.S. lacks a surgeon general, Kennedy warns kids

Kennedy’s screen-time – With the U.S. still without a Senate-confirmed surgeon general, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a public health advisory warning about the dangers of screen time for children and teens. The guidance—aimed at parents, schools, and healthcare p

On a week when the U.S. still doesn’t have a Senate-confirmed surgeon general, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stepped into the role people usually associate with the nation’s top public health voice.

Kennedy sent out a public health advisory usually reserved for the surgeon general’s office. warning of mounting risks from screen time for children and teens. “While screen use can have some benefits. the evidence of a range of risks to children’s overall mental and physical health is mounting. ” Kennedy wrote.

His message doesn’t stop at general concern. Kennedy points to “harmful use. ” including screen exposure for children with vulnerable medical conditions. and to the “ubiquity of devices and features deliberately built into many tech platforms to promote ‘engagement. ’ a positive sounding word that. for too many young people. is a path to addiction-like behavior.”.

That emphasis arrives because the surgeon general’s office currently isn’t led by a fully confirmed figure. Instead, Kennedy is leaning on Stephanie Haridopolos, a family physician who serves in the office of the surgeon general, to temporarily fill the role.

Kennedy’s first surgeon general pick fizzled over concerns about her lack of experience as a practicing physician and her noncommittal approach to childhood vaccines—an outlook Kennedy shares with the surgeon general in question. Kennedy had made “a number of controversial changes to vaccine recommendations” as the country’s top health official.

For families. the advisory is direct: it asks parents. schools. and even healthcare providers to work together to shrink exposure to what the report defines as “patterns of use that are excessive. difficult to control. or involve exposure to content or interactions that may harm a child’s well-being.” The surgeon general’s office cites developmental and cognitive risks. worse educational and physical health outcomes. sleep disruption. and behavioral problems linked to social media use. including cyberbullying.

Kennedy frames the message as an invitation rather than a scolding. “This Advisory is not only a warning. but also an invitation for all of us to enjoy a broader world. beyond the confines of screens. ” he wrote in the advisory. “Join us as we seek to scroll less and live best. Let’s turn our screens off and our brains and bodies on, so that we can live real life.”.

The report’s recommendations come with specific limits. It encourages parents to delay the introduction of screen time for children for as long as possible and to restrict use when phones and tablets do eventually arrive. The advisory recommends that kids under 18 months have no screen time. For younger children. it sets caps of less than one hour a day for kids under 6. and less than two hours per day from age six to age 18.

It also stresses that content matters. Violent, inappropriate, or misleading material is singled out as potentially harmful to kids.

Schools are also pulled into the plan. The advisory calls on educators to put “bell to bell” bans on phones in place—an approach already being tried as many schools test reduced access to devices to cut distraction and improve classroom performance.

Healthcare providers get instructions too. The report suggests doctors ask about screen use during visits and monitor young patients for signs that technology is contributing to problems. “Learn to recognize harmful screen use and its relationships to important health outcomes such as nutrition and sleep. ” the advisory states in a section for health providers. “For children struggling with sleep. school. healthy weight. mental health. or behavioral issues. inquire about how the child’s media use might play a role in the problem.”.

The advisory extends beyond personal habits to the business design of technology itself. It criticizes tech companies for creating products “intentionally addictive. ” pointing to features like infinite scrolling and dark pattern design that keep users engaged for as long as possible. The report says tech companies should shift their designs to prioritize user wellbeing and safety over engagement. but it offers few specifics about how the administration could hold the industry accountable.

There is also a reminder that this isn’t the first time the surgeon general’s office has warned the country about technology—though the focus has shifted. During the Biden administration, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report on technology’s dangers for young people. That earlier advisory concentrated on social media in particular and said. “At this time. we do not yet have enough evidence to determine if social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents.” Issued in 2023. Murthy’s advisory is not cited in the new report.

Even without a Senate-confirmed surgeon general, the new warning makes clear where Kennedy wants the U.S. to push next: less screen time for kids. clearer guardrails for what they watch and how they use devices. and stronger pressure on schools and healthcare providers to treat screen exposure as a health issue—not just a lifestyle choice.

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