The Office of the Surgeon General released an advisory Wednesday warning that screen use among children has become a public health concern, citing evidence that endless scrolling is linked to developmental, mental, and physical health challenges. The advisory warns that screen time often begins before children turn 1 and increases with age. Negative impacts include sleep disruptions, poor educational and health outcomes in school children, and mental health and behavioral concerns among teenagers.
Jeff Temple, PhD, professor and psychologist at UTHealth Houston, is available to discuss the findings and provide tips for how parents can manage their kids’ screen time.