On Wednesday, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN) and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan Screen-time Management And Recommendations for Teens (SMART) and Kids Act. The bill would require the United States Surgeon General to develop evidence-informed screen time recommendations for children. These recommendations would be based on independent, evidence-based research, not regulations on devices or users.
“We know excessive screen time has been linked to mental health and developmental challenges in children,” said Rep. Houchin. “Parents deserve clear, evidence-based guidance on the dangers of excessive screen time and how to get kids to unplug. The SMART Kids Act is a commonsense bill to help parents navigate the realities of raising children in an increasingly digital world.”
“Screens are everywhere these days, and we ought to be studying how screen time can impact our kids and their development,” said Rep. Deluzio. “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan SMART Kids Act to require the Surgeon General to develop evidence-based screen time recommendations for kids. Parents like me know that screens are impacting American children. Let’s study screen time and put out research-based recommendations to help families across the country, so they can make smart decisions for their kids.”
This bipartisan bill would require the Surgeon General to develop recommendations on healthy amounts of screen time for children ages 0 to 18. Because not all screens are created equal, the bill also allows for recommendations based on the quality of screen use, recognizing that a smartboard may not have the same effect on children as an iPad. The SMART Kids Act also requires the Surgeon General to work with an independent entity disconnected from the tech industry to develop these recommendations. The recommendations would be published within one year of the bill’s enactment.
“The SMART Kids Act is an important step toward providing families with the science-backed tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex digital world. By tasking the Surgeon General with developing age-specific recommendations, this legislation prioritizes the developmental needs of our children and acknowledges that healthy screen habits are essential to protecting youth mental health and ensuring long-term well-being.” — Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association
“We endorse the effort to create screen time guidelines for kids. Parents need and want clear, evidence-based guidance, and our hope is that this is a step in the right direction.” — Emily Boddy, Founder and Co-Lead, Smartphone Free Childhood US
“Children and Screens supports the SMART Kids Act as an important step toward providing families with clear, evidence-based guidance to navigate the risks and opportunities of children’s media use. As digital environments continue to shape how children learn and develop, age-specific recommendations grounded in science can help parents and caregivers make more informed decisions that support healthy development and well-being.” — Kris Perry MSW., Executive Director, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development
“In today’s attention economy, children are spending increasing amounts of time on screens, which has been shown to negatively impact cognitive and social development. The SMART Kids Act is a bipartisan and pragmatic proposal designed to investigate the underlying causes of technology dependence and directly address these concerns.” — Joel Thayer, president of the Digital Progress Institute
“We applaud Representatives Deluzio and Houchin for recognizing the urgent need to address youth screen time and its effects on children’s health and development. Parents deserve clear, evidence-based recommendations that empower them to create healthier digital habits for their children. This bipartisan effort aligns closely with our mission to protect childhood, support student wellbeing, and foster healthier environments both in and out of school.” — Mileva Repasky Co-Founder, Phone-Free Schools Movement
The SMART Kids Act has a broad coalition of supporters including AFT, American Psychological Association (APA), Anxious Generation, Digitally Intentional, Smartphone Free Childhood US, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Lebo Unplugged (Mothers Against Media Addiction chapter), Phone-Free Schools Movement, Screen Strong, The Balance Project, The Organization for Social Media Safety, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), and the Digital Progress Institute.
