Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared with the Post his belief that children should disconnect from screens to better “process the pain” they encounter.
This message was highlighted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services during a recent visit to Iowa, where he joined Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in signing new legislation aimed at improving public health.
“What really surprised me was learning that 6-year-olds are on screens for about 2.5 hours daily, while teenagers clock in at around 8.5 hours—both more than they sleep,” he remarked from an elementary school in Gilbert, Iowa.
He pointed out that young people are missing essential lessons in life, such as how to settle disputes and interact with peers during lunch breaks.
According to him, children learn to handle conflict and emotional distress by engaging with one another rather than staying glued to their phones. “They don’t have the skills to deal with it,” Kennedy added, reflecting on how complaints about cyberbullying arise from this lack of experience. He also fondly remembers his time as the pull-up champion in the Presidential Fitness Program initiated by his uncle, JFK.
Those in recovery from addiction have echoed concerns regarding excessive screen time and its potential for exacerbating addictive behaviors.
The new Surgeon General’s report, which Kennedy referenced during his Iowa trip, recommends limiting screen time in schools to just one hour daily. However, it stops short of imposing similar restrictions on families.
“I think my background gives me a solid perspective: addictive behaviors often feed into one another,” he noted, suggesting that reinforcing the need to escape from one’s problems at a young age might not be beneficial.
RFK Jr. traveled to Des Moines to witness the bill-signing event and later visited Gilbert Elementary School on the same day the Surgeon General issued a “Harm of Screen Use Alert.”
A recent Surgeon General’s Recommendation Report advocates for only one hour of screen time for children at school each day. This report, which surfaced Wednesday amid disputes over the nomination of the surgeon general, suggests that schools establish strict limits on phone usage and emphasizes “age-appropriate” screen guidelines.
When he visited Iowa two years ago, RFK was focused on securing his candidacy for the presidency as an independent. Despite the campaign’s conclusion, he still garnered 13,000 votes.
He maintains that his return to political discussions has not reignited his ambition to run for office. “I think I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m committed to this role,” he stated.
