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THE United States government has intensified concerns over the impact of digital technology on young people, warning that excessive screen exposure is contributing to a growing range of mental health and behavioural problems among children and teenagers.
A new advisory issued by the Office of the US Surgeon General highlighted mounting evidence connecting prolonged screen use to sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, alcohol consumption and other harmful health outcomes affecting younger generations increasingly immersed in digital environments.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) cited that the report urged children and adolescents to reconnect with “real life” experiences by spending more time outdoors and away from devices, while encouraging parents to impose stricter technology limits and delay children’s exposure to screens for as long as possible.
Social media platforms were identified as a major source of concern, although the advisory also warned that AI chatbots and online gambling platforms now form part of a broader “digital ecosystem” driving unhealthy screen dependency.
The report further recommended that schools prohibit mobile phone usage during classroom learning sessions and encouraged medical practitioners to include screen-time assessments during annual health examinations.
The issue of excessive screen consumption has become a recurring concern for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who formally launched the report during an event in Iowa after the state implemented legislation in 2025 restricting mobile phone use in schools.
The advisory was produced by officials within the Office of the US Surgeon General and the US Department of Health and Human Services, despite the Surgeon General position remaining vacant since January 2025.
The administration of Donald Trump had previously withdrawn two nominees for the role — Dr Casey Means and Dr Janette Nesheiwat — while a new nominee, Dr Nicole Saphier, has yet to appear before the Senate confirmation process.
Although numerous studies have associated excessive internet use with worsening mental health outcomes, the report acknowledged that existing research has not conclusively established social media as the sole determining factor behind mental health disorders among children.
Nevertheless, health officials warned that screen exposure among American youth remains exceptionally high, with the advisory stating that children as young as eight years old now spend an average of four hours or more each day in front of screens.
The report was authored by officials from the Office of the US Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services, including Kennedy adviser Stefanie Spear and senior adviser Dr Stephanie Haridopolos, reflecting growing bipartisan concern in the United States over the long-term societal impact of digital technology on children. - May 21, 2026
