The New Plan to Protect Youth Online: Surgeon General’s Warning on Harms of Screen Use

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General has released the Surgeon General’s “Warning on the Harms of Screen Use: An Advisory and Toolkit on How to Protect Children and Adolescents.” This advisory aims to raise national awareness about the growing risks associated with excessive and harmful screen use among youth.¹

“While screen use can have some benefits, the evidence of a range of risks to children’s overall mental and physical health is mounting. These negative outcomes are related to harmful use, including use by children with vulnerable medical conditions, along with 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,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The advisory noted that early exposure to screens can lead to developmental and cognitive issues, including poorer language, educational, and health outcomes. For teenagers, there are additional mental health and behavioral concerns, particularly related to excessive or harmful use of social media. There are also emerging worries about the long-term impacts of screen use that extend beyond childhood. Kennedy noted specific concerns that youth of today more time on screens than sleeping, exercising, or engaging face-to-face with family and friends, leading to “rising rates of anxiety, depression, obesity, and developmental challenges.”²

Ultimately, the advisory seeks to shift the cultural norm around screen use for children and adolescents—which will require the collaboration of parents/caregivers; health care providers, like psychiatrists and mental health clinicians; schools; communities; tech companies; and federal, state, and local governments.

“We are calling for urgent action to protect children at home, in schools, and across platforms,” said Stephanie Haridoplos, MD, the director of National Health Communications for the Office of the Surgeon General. “Kids are growing up in digital spaces that were never designed for their safety, and these online experiences are shaping how they think, feel, and interact in real life. We want children to live real life, not be pulled into harmful environments online. This Advisory gives families and communities the guidance they need. History will judge us not only by the steps we took, but by the inaction we allowed.”²

The advisory suggests families utilize “the 5 Ds” to reduce the negative impacts of screen use:

• Discuss: Parents and caregivers should have discussions with youth about what they are seeing, who they are interacting with, and how they feel. Additionally, there should be set expectations for all household members for healthy screen use, taking advantage of parental controls and household rules.
• Do: Parents and caregivers, as well as trusted adults, should model healthy screen use behaviors and be conscientious of how much time they spend on screens and what type of content you consume.
• Delay: The longer parents and caregivers can delay giving youth screen time, the better. It is pertinent to establish age-appropriate limits on time of use, device type, and content that is accessible.
• Divert: Parents and caregivers should provide alternatives to screen use, so that it is not the default when children are bored. Redirecting their attention and providing opportunities for healthy activities, such as physical activity, can improve outcomes. The advisory suggests prioritizing the completion of desirable activities first, such as chores, homework, music, or sports before screen use.
• Disconnect: Parents and caregivers should create regularly scheduled, screen free time, such as mealtimes. Youth should also avoid screen time before bed or sleeping next to devices to improve sleep quality. Youth should not be multitasking with screens during activities. Parents and caregivers can also encourage a complete disconnect from certain devices, media, or platforms if they have become a problem.

For mental health clinicians, the advisory suggests:

• Including questions about screen use during visits.
• Avoiding judgmental approaches.
• Modeling healthy behaviors.
• Keeping up to date about screens, media, and devices.

“This Advisory equips parents, schools, and communities with clear, science-based strategies to reclaim healthy habits, reduce harm, and help Make Our Children Healthy Again,” concluded Kennedy.

References

1. US Surgeon General’s Warning on the Harms of Screen Use: An Advisory and Toolkit on How to Protect Children and Adolescents. HHS. May 20, 2026. Accessed May 21, 2026. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/us-surgeon-generals-advisory-warning-on-the-harms-of-screen-use.pdf

2. Secretary Kennedy announces HHS action to reduce harmful screen use and protect children online. News release. May 20, 2026. Accessed May 21, 2026. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/secretary-kennedy-announces-hhs-action-reduce-harmful-screen-use-protect-children-online.html