HHS Official Highlights New Screen-Use Advisory and Its Role in Make America Healthy Again
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Stephanie Haridopolos described the May Surgeon General advisory on children’s screen use as a career-defining success and outlined its key recommendations.
In an interview, Stephanie Haridopolos, the principal deputy assistant secretary for health, praised the May Surgeon General advisory on screen-use harms as a major achievement of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. The document, released by HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlights physical risks such as obesity and rising rates of myopia, projecting that almost 40% of global children could be nearsighted by 2050.
It also cites mental-health concerns, reduced attention spans, and poorer academic outcomes tied to handheld devices and short-form video consumption. Haridopolos recommended strict screen-time limits—no screens for infants under 18 months, one hour daily for those under six, and two hours for older children—while emphasizing the need for outdoor sunlight exposure. The advisory includes a practical toolkit for families, schools, policymakers and tech companies, and HHS plans a September 1 symposium to unveil additional initiatives. She linked the effort to broader MAHA policies, such as revising the food pyramid and reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test, aiming to lower chronic disease rates and improve national health span.
Why it matters
The advisory could shape how families, schools and tech firms manage children's screen time, affecting future health and education outcomes.
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