Jared Cooney Horvath Sparks Debate on Reducing Screen Time in Schools

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Parents distribute copies of a book at school board meetings. Administrators rely on it to find ways to minimize technology use in schools. Actor Hugh Grant has supported it and endorsed the cover. Overnight, Jared Cooney Horvath transformed from a relatively unknown educational consultant to a leader in the movement to limit screen time in schools, thanks to his book, “The Digital Delusion.” Released last December, the book links declining standardized test scores among American children to the rise of providing each student with a laptop or tablet. Citing academic research, Horvath argues that students learn better with paper and discussion, and schools harm children by using screens extensively.

Since launching “The Digital Delusion,” Horvath has testified before the U.S. Senate and state legislatures about screen time limits in schools. Parent coalitions from California to Maryland have invited him to advise on advocating for printed textbooks. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, recently cited him as a leading researcher in a call for restrictions on school technology.

“There’s no way in hell my book has this big of an impact,” Horvath said. “So my thought is it was there, it was fomenting, it was always about to happen. It’s just people needed the arguments, and I think that’s probably where the book kind of slid in and just said, ‘Here’s the word you’ve been looking for.’”

Parents and educators seeking to limit educational technology, or ed tech, in schools find the book offers statistics and sources to persuade others. Jodi Carreon, a San Diego mother and national director of Schools Beyond Screens, stated that the book added credibility to parents’ experiences.

Granville County Public Schools in North Carolina consulted the book when initiating a tech-free experiment, banning laptops two days a week. Julie Frumin, a California mother, distributed copies at a school board meeting. The book has challenged education organizations and tech advocates, creating unexpected policy debates at school board meetings and online platforms.

Richard Culatta, chief executive of ISTE+ASCD, anticipated a tech reckoning post-Covid spending on devices. However, he criticized Horvath’s book for linking falling test scores to ed tech, calling it a misuse of correlation and causation.

What the Book Argues

“The Digital Delusion” challenges claims that education is broken. Horvath suggests ed tech broke schools by selling distracting multimedia as learning tools, arguing personalized instruction has been unsuccessful. He claims schools embracing AI “surrender” their mission.

“EdTech isn’t failing because of outdated software or poor teacher training,” he writes. “It’s failing because it’s fundamentally incompatible with how human beings actually learn.”

Horvath claims students using computers heavily score lower on PISA assessments, advocating for investing in air conditioning over laptops. He suggests returning to textbooks, paper, and pencil as effective learning tools.

His arguments echo policy briefs from institutes suggesting paper books and handwriting are superior to screens, citing relationships between computer use and academic performance.

Horvath holds a master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of Melbourne. He has extensive experience teaching and consulting, and has written on education and neuroscience for over a decade.

His company, LME Global, consults schools, and his YouTube videos examine learning, including a January 2024 video asserting “The EdTech Revolution has Failed.” The book idea came after reading Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” which critiqued teen smartphone use, prompting legislative restrictions.

A Heated Debate

Upon its December 2025 publication, “The Digital Delusion” garnered limited media attention beyond Fox News and The Free Press. However, Horvath’s testimony before the U.S. Senate’s Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in January saw significant impact. He reports selling over 5,000 books monthly, topping Amazon’s “Educational Psychology” category.

The timing was ideal, as parents organized to reduce screen time pressure. A viral YouTube clip of his Senate testimony posted by C-SPAN has nearly 3 million views. Harmony Books, a Penguin Random House imprint, plans to republish the book in August.

Parent activist coalitions like Oregon Unplugged see parents citing the book during school board meetings. Jody Scheer, a retired pediatrician and co-founder, commends Horvath’s ability to simplify challenging concepts.

Experts are debating Horvath’s conclusions. Peter Bergman, University of Texas at Austin associate professor, notes the difficulty interpreting correlations, cautioning against oversimplified national trends narratives.

Critics contend Horvath lumps different ed tech types together, ignoring research supporting moderate computer use. The OECD found limited computer use enhances learning, though Horvath questions these data, suggesting pandemic disruptions skew results.

Jacob Pleasants, co-executive director of the Civics of Technology Project, recognizes the polarizing book’s discussions. He supports practical advice on auditing and adopting cautious AI use but critiques Horvath’s broad conclusions.

Horvath plans to address criticism in an expanded edition, acknowledging some ed tech shows positive impacts but requires further research.

Moving to Italy

Unlike Haidt’s campaign against teen social media, Horvath doesn’t aim to dedicate years challenging school technology; he has other interests.

Focused on human learning processes, Horvath is moving his family to Italy, valuing its screen time balance and handwriting emphasis, intending to write two books. One book will explore if genius can be taught, and the other, “The Learning Blueprint,” aims to compile his learning insights.

He believes the debate he initiated will persist due to dedicated parent groups.