HHS Convenes Leaders at the Live Real Life Symposium to Address Harms of Screen Use in Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today hosted the Live Real Life Symposium at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., bringing together leaders from technology, medicine, research, education, government, and advocacy groups to examine the harms of screen use in children and discuss actionable approaches to supporting healthier childhood development.

"Our children get one childhood, and we cannot allow screens to replace the real-world experiences they need to grow and thrive," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "Through the Office of the Surgeon General's Live Real Life initiative, we are giving families practical tools to put technology in its proper place and get children back to playing, exploring, connecting, and experiencing the world around them."

The symposium is part of the HHS Live Real Life campaign, a national effort to help families, schools, and communities reduce harmful screen use and create more opportunities for children to engage in the experiences essential to healthy development.

The event builds on the Surgeon General's Warning on the Harms of Screen Use: An Advisory and Toolkit on How to Protect Children and Adolescents issued earlier this year, which outlines how factors such as age, content, design, purpose, and duration influence when screen engagement may be beneficial and when it becomes harmful.

"The well-being of children is not just important today, but must be an ongoing priority for the public health communities," said Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, Director of National Health Communications for the Office of the Surgeon General and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health. "Technology has a place in our lives, but it should never come at the expense of our children's health. Live Real Life is about turning that conversation into action and protecting the space for kids to simply be kids."

As part of the symposium, HHS is introducing The Magic Tablet, a new children's book that communicates the Live Real Life principles through an accessible, story-based format for kids and families. Attendees will receive a copy, and a printable version will be made available for families and communities.

HHS also announced that healthcare providers can now earn free accredited continuing education (CE) credits through the Office of the Surgeon General's partnership with the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). Providers can earn 1.5 AMA Category 1 Credits™ for completing the Advisory on the Harms of Screen Use and 1 AMA Category 1 Credit™ for the accompanying Toolkit. This CE offering gives clinicians an accredited way to engage with evidence-based guidance and practical resources for recognizing and addressing screen-related harms in children and adolescents.

Throughout the symposium, experts discussed the challenges families face, current research on screen use and healthy development, gaps in evidence, and the shared roles of families, educators, communities, healthcare professionals, and technology leaders in promoting healthy childhoods.

For more information and to access The Magic Tablet and the continuing education credits, visit SurgeonGeneral.gov