The U.S. Surgeon General's Office is urging schools to significantly reduce screen time for students, warning that excessive technology use in classrooms can harm children's mental and physical health. In a new advisory released on Wednesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that while screen use offers some benefits, mounting evidence points to serious risks, including addiction-like behavior.
Key Recommendations for Schools
The report calls for a "bell-to-bell" ban on cellphone use during school hours, encouraging extracurricular activities and physical exercise. It advises schools to invest in physical textbooks and prioritize pen-and-paper curricula, hands-on activities, and social interactions. Screen use should be confined to dedicated computer labs, with assignments given on paper whenever possible.
Although the advisory acknowledges "knowledge gaps" in research comparing digital and analog learning methods, it argues that action cannot wait for every question to be settled. This stance echoes a 2024 call by former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for health warning labels on social media platforms.
Current Screen Time Regulations
Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia restrict cellphone use in schools, while Iowa, Tennessee, and Utah have laws targeting overall screen time. The surgeon general's office lacks a confirmed permanent leader; President Trump has nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor. Tech companies are also facing legal challenges over alleged health impacts, including a California court finding Instagram and YouTube addictive and a New Mexico jury ruling Meta products harmful to children's mental health.
Beyond schools, the report urges children to "live real life" and advises parents to set clear tech boundaries at home, delaying screen use for as long as possible.
Clash with Trump's AI Agenda
The recommendations stand in stark contrast to the Trump administration's strong support for artificial intelligence, including in education. Last year, the first lady launched a presidential AI challenge, and President Trump issued an executive order to preempt state-level AI regulations, some of which aim to protect children. Trump has been a vocal advocate for the tech industry, with many leading figures and companies donating heavily to his campaign, inauguration, and White House ballroom project.
