New surgeon general’s advisory raises alarm about screen time risks for kids and teens

May 20, 2026 - 20:26

Excessive screen use among children and teenagers has become a serious public health issue in the United States, according to a new advisory from the U.S. surgeon general released Wednesday. The report warns that constant social media scrolling, nonstop texting, and hours spent on video games can cause real harm to young people.

The advisory points to growing evidence that heavy screen time is linked to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep problems in adolescents. It notes that the average teen spends more than seven hours a day on screens for entertainment alone, not counting schoolwork. This amount of time, the surgeon general argues, displaces critical activities like in-person socializing, physical exercise, and sleep.

The report does not call for a total ban on technology but urges parents, schools, and tech companies to take action. It recommends creating phone-free zones at home, delaying children's access to social media, and requiring stronger safety measures from platforms. The surgeon general also emphasized that the burden should not fall only on families, calling for broader changes in how tech products are designed and marketed to minors.

This advisory is the latest in a series of public health warnings from the surgeon general's office, which has previously addressed issues like youth mental health and loneliness. The goal, officials say, is to spark a national conversation about the risks of unregulated screen time.