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Surgeon-General Warns Excessive Screens Harm Children’s Health

5/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

HHS issued a surgeon-general advisory warning that excessive screen use threatens children’s mental and physical health.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said screens dominate children’s day and are linked to reduced activity, higher anxiety, and poorer academic performance.
The advisory urges parents to create media plans, asks providers to screen for use and calls on tech firms to warn users while noting that educational screen time differs from harmful scrolling.

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Story summary

HHS issued a surgeon-general advisory warning that excessive screen use threatens children’s mental and physical health.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said screens dominate children’s day and are linked to reduced activity, higher anxiety, and poorer academic performance.
The advisory urges parents to create media plans, asks providers to screen for use and calls on tech firms to warn users while noting that educational screen time differs from harmful scrolling.