The anxious generation
THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech--and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.
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What’s it about?
This book tries to answer the question of why the mental health of adolescents in America has plunged since the early 2010s. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt makes the case that both the decline of unstructured play for children and the rise of the smartphone have created a crisis for American youth.
What did it make me think about?
Yikes! Too many interesting facts and graphs to include them all.
Should I read it?
This book takes up where Generations by Jean M. Twenge, PhD, left off. The book Generations explores how technology has affected each generation differently. I thought Generations was a particularly illuminating book and I was interested in how Jonathan Haidt would further investigate Gen Z. He has much to say. Some of it may turn out to be spot on, and over time, some conclusions may be disputed. What cannot be disputed is that there is a problem with our youth’s mental health that must be addressed. My biggest takeaways were the importance of unsupervised play for children, parents must give their children more autonomy and responsibility, and the dangers of social media and smartphones for these kids. “When parents can’t take their eyes off their kids, and kids can’t do a single thing on their own, the result is a double helix of anxiety and doubt. Many kids are afraid to try something new, all of which leads to more overprotective, which leads to more anxiety.” Lots to think about here!
Quote-
1. No smartphones before high school
2. No social media before 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. Far more unsupervised play and childhood independence
What’s it about?
This book tries to answer the question of why the mental health of adolescents in America has plunged since the early 2010s. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt makes the case that both the decline of unstructured play for children and the rise of the smartphone have created a crisis for American youth.
What did it make me think about?
Yikes! Too many interesting facts and graphs to include them all.
Should I read it?
This book takes up where Generations by Jean M. Twenge, PhD, left off. The book Generations explores how technology has affected each generation differently. I thought Generations was a particularly illuminating book and I was interested in how Jonathan Haidt would further investigate Gen Z. He has much to say. Some of it may turn out to be spot on, and over time, some conclusions may be disputed. What cannot be disputed is that there is a problem with our youth’s mental health that must be addressed. My biggest takeaways were the importance of unsupervised play for children, parents must give their children more autonomy and responsibility, and the dangers of social media and smartphones for these kids. “When parents can’t take their eyes off their kids, and kids can’t do a single thing on their own, the result is a double helix of anxiety and doubt. Many kids are afraid to try something new, all of which leads to more overprotective, which leads to more anxiety.” Lots to think about here!
Quote-
1. No smartphones before high school
2. No social media before 16
3. Phone-free schools
4. Far more unsupervised play and childhood independence
2.5 stars, rounded up
I’ll give Jonathan Haidt this: The Anxious Generation nails one thing right — kids and social media are a messy combo. I’m fully on board with the idea that we should keep younger kids off social platforms and seriously limit how much time older ones spend scrolling. It’s hard to argue against the growing pile of research showing how harmful constant online engagement can be for mental health. So on that front, Haidt had me nodding along.
But his tendency to wrap a complex crisis in overly neat explanations didn’t sit quite right. At times it felt like he was manipulating data to prove his thesis to avoid a nuanced and messy conversation. Mental health is a tangled issue—simplifying it down to screen time and parenting styles only scratches the surface, in my opinion.
I also found myself rolling my eyes at some of Haidt’s glamorization of the era in which he grew up. There’s a subtle but consistent right-leaning undertone as he critiques modern parenting, education, and cultural shifts. While it’s not overtly partisan, it’s hard to ignore. Instead of engaging with all sides of these complex issues, Haidt often leans into a “back in my day” mindset that can feel dismissive and oversimplified.
I’ll give Jonathan Haidt this: The Anxious Generation nails one thing right — kids and social media are a messy combo. I’m fully on board with the idea that we should keep younger kids off social platforms and seriously limit how much time older ones spend scrolling. It’s hard to argue against the growing pile of research showing how harmful constant online engagement can be for mental health. So on that front, Haidt had me nodding along.
But his tendency to wrap a complex crisis in overly neat explanations didn’t sit quite right. At times it felt like he was manipulating data to prove his thesis to avoid a nuanced and messy conversation. Mental health is a tangled issue—simplifying it down to screen time and parenting styles only scratches the surface, in my opinion.
I also found myself rolling my eyes at some of Haidt’s glamorization of the era in which he grew up. There’s a subtle but consistent right-leaning undertone as he critiques modern parenting, education, and cultural shifts. While it’s not overtly partisan, it’s hard to ignore. Instead of engaging with all sides of these complex issues, Haidt often leans into a “back in my day” mindset that can feel dismissive and oversimplified.
Excellent research based book on the negative effects of smart phones on young people (IMO, some old people as well). Also recommends free play as an essential learning experience.
This read like one long opinion. I agree with much, but it's still just my opinion. I did not see scientific data, though I admit I may have overlooked. I agree social media damages - not just youth. I see many adults affected similarly.
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