Jonathan Haidt | The Anxious Generation and the Epidemic of Childhood Mental Illness

Discover the underlying causes behind the alarming rise in teen mental health issues with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's groundbreaking research in "The Anxious Generation." Haidt delves into the sharp increase in depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide among adolescents since the early 2010s, uncovering the shift from a "play-based childhood" to a "phone-based childhood."
In this insightful talk, Haidt explores how the decline of play and independent exploration in childhood has been replaced by excessive screen time and social media, leading to detrimental effects on social and neurological development. He discusses the unique impacts on girls and boys, revealing how social media affects girls more negatively, while boys increasingly withdraw into the virtual world. Haidt provides a compelling call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers to prioritize changes that can reverse this trend and restore a healthier, more balanced childhood for our youth.
Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the teen mental health crisis and learn actionable steps to help end this epidemic and create a more compassionate and nurturing environment for our youth.
NOTES
This program is supported by the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund and the Center for Humane Technology.
Photo courtesy of speaker.
April 1, 2024
Jonathan Haidt
Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University’s Stern School of Business; Author, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness; X @JonHaidt
In Conversation with Tristan Harris
Co-founder and Executive Director, Center for Humane Technology; X @tristanharris
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[@kicsms_science3729]

I would also add: Parents, please hold onto your kids’ devices overnight. They need your help stop using them in time to sleep well, and they need help getting away from the constant notifications far into the night.

[@guayabita27able]

We retain our son’s cellphone at night and place it in the kitchen along with ours. It works!

[@davelowney9918]

A number of forward thinking schools are now requiring all students to put their phones into individual lock pouches as they enter their school and they are opened and returned at end of school day. Huge resistance at first by both students and parents, but after a number of days both students and parents adapted and dramatic improvements in attention and person to personal interaction increased markedly.

[@Rhimeson]

Full support, very important work and cause. Great !

[@sonnyjim5268]

I wonder what the world will be like when this generation is in power say 10-20 years from now. We are so screwed.

[@TheBestSelfGuide6-StepSy-xo6vh]

We are! I think about it all the time. I started noticing it when calling any customer service today and finding people with app-based liner thinking. Scary is an understatement.

[@AlgoNudger]

People always easily ignore (distracted from) their real and closest threat.

[@JeffCaplan313]

I dunno about you, but I'm definitely my own biggest threat and I definitely need help distracting myself from myself.

[@c.dwightbain7224]

Profound

[@hope1416]

The education system ended the play-based childhood.

[@kicsms_science3729]

You’re not necessarily wrong, but as someone working in it now, I can say it’s difficult to get 7th-8th graders off their devices for play, even when it’s offered & encouraged.

[@bakedbeans9546]

@@kicsms_science3729 No it's not difficult at all. You get a box out and tell students to put the phones into the box during playtime. Whatever happened to common sense?!