Surgeon General Advisory Warns About Screen Time for Children

‘Harmful screen use among children and adolescents has become a public health concern,’ the advisory states.

A 14-year-old boy looks at social media on his mobile phone at his home near Gosford, Australia, on Oct. 24, 2025. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

The surgeon general’s office on May 20 warned Americans that many children are spending excessive time on screens, and that screen time has been associated with problems such as difficulty paying attention.

“Early exposure to screens carries developmental and cognitive risks. Screen use in early life is linked to poorer language outcomes,” the advisory states, pointing to research that found children who used screens more had poorer language skills.