Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a new advisory urging schools to significantly reduce screen time for children, warning that excessive technology use poses risks to mental and physical health. The advisory, released on Wednesday, recommends a 'bell-to-bell' ban on cellphones, prioritising physical textbooks, pen-and-paper work, hands-on activities, and social interaction.
Kennedy described excessive screen use as a 'path to addiction-like behaviour' and called for immediate action despite acknowledged 'knowledge gaps' in research. The report also encourages parents to delay children's screen use 'as long as possible' and to set clear tech boundaries at home, promoting 'real life' experiences.
The guidance contrasts with the Trump administration's strong support for artificial intelligence in education. President Trump has issued an executive order preempting state-level AI regulation and launched a presidential AI challenge, while tech industry figures have donated heavily to his campaign.
Currently, 37 US states and the District of Columbia restrict cellphone use in schools, with Iowa, Tennessee, and Utah enacting laws to limit overall screen time. Courts have also held tech companies liable for addictive platforms, including a California ruling against Instagram and YouTube and a New Mexico jury finding Meta products harmful to children's mental health.
