HHS Issues Advisory Warning Excessive Screen Use Harms Youth Health

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a formal advisory on Wednesday warning that excessive and harmful screen use among children and adolescents has become a major public health concern. The advisory, released under the authority of the surgeon general's office, states that while digital tools can offer benefits, mounting evidence links overuse to a range of risks for mental and physical health.

Exposure to screens often begins before a child's first birthday and increases with age, according to the report. By adolescence, many young people may spend more time on screens than they do sleeping or attending school, averaging four or more hours daily. The advisory associates excessive screen use with worse sleep, decreased academic performance, less physical activity, and weakened in-person relationships. It also highlights concerns about increased risks of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

The advisory includes a toolkit with recommendations for families, schools, healthcare providers, and technology companies. It suggests specific screen time limits, such as no screen time for children under 18 months old, less than one hour per day for...