21/05/2026
We heard this same warning from the previous administration. Now, we are hearing it again. The sad part is, this administration likes to cater to Big Tech. The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General has issued warnings about the harms of excessive screen use. This is a conversation every parent needs to be paying attention to.
Harmful screen use has become one of the most urgent issues facing children today. Kids are being exposed earlier and more intensely than ever before, and it is impacting their mental health, emotional development, sleep, self-esteem, attention spans, and overall well-being in ways we can no longer ignore.
This isn’t about blaming parents. Technology has changed childhood entirely, and many families are trying to navigate dangers that didn’t exist a generation ago. But awareness matters, and proactive steps can help protect our children.
A few important ways parents can reduce risks:
• Delay smartphones and social media as long as possible
• Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight
• Set screen time boundaries and stick to them
• Monitor apps, chats, and online activity
• Talk openly about cyberbullying, predators, sextortion, illicit drugs, and harmful content
• Encourage face-to-face friendships and offline activities
• Watch for changes in mood, sleep, anxiety, or isolation
• Teach children that they can come to you without fear or punishment if something happens online
What makes this even more disturbing is that while parents, doctors, educators, and survivor families are sounding the alarm, Big Tech-backed groups continue fighting even the most basic protections for children.
These companies and lobbying organizations know exactly what their platforms are doing to children. The algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, keep kids scrolling, and increase profits — even when it comes at the expense of children’s mental health and safety. Survivor families are left picking up the pieces while corporations continue protecting their business models.
Children should never be collateral damage for corporate profit.
We need stronger protections for kids online, accountability for tech companies, and leaders willing to stand up against the industries exploiting our children.
Please pay attention. Please stay involved. And please keep having these conversations.
Borrowed from a fellow survivor parent friend. Thanks Bridgette Norring 💙🦋
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General today released the Surgeon General’s Warning on the Harms of Screen Use: An Advisory and Toolkit on How to Protect Children and Adolescents, which raises national awareness about the growing risks associated with excessive and harmful screen use among young people.
