The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

After finishing Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, I couldn’t wait to recommend it to my family, friends, and others. I truly believe this book is a must-read for anyone with a smartphone, children, or, well, a pulse. Smartphones’ impact has been so fast and pervasive in our culture that we are only beginning to understand how they are changing us. Because of that, The Anxious Generation is one of the most important nonfiction books I have read this year, perhaps in several years. While many have expressed concern about the impact of mobile phones and social media on our youth, Haidt has made it his mission to uncover the symptoms, explain the effects, and convince us to change how we raise our kids regarding phones and social media. The insights provided in The Anxious Generation make a compelling case for reevaluating the age at which we give our children phones, the extent of their Internet and social media access, and the value of free play. Haidt argues that smartphones, social media, and helicopter parenting have contributed to a decline in the mental well-being of young people. The book offers practical solutions crucial for fostering the emotional maturity and stability of our children and ourselves. At the book’s center are four cultural norms Haidt argues we must implement to address the mental health crisis among our youth. These norms serve as a framework for his argument and practical solutions. First, no smartphones before high school. Parents should delay children’s entry into round-the-clock internet access by giving them only basic phones (phones with limited apps and no internet browser) before ninth grade (roughly 14). Second, no social media before 16. Let kids get through the most vulnerable period of brain development before connecting them to a constant stream of social comparison and algorithmically chosen influencers, which can significantly impact their self-esteem and mental health. Next, phone-free schools. All elementary through high school, students should store their phones, smartwatches, and other personal devices to send or receive texts in phone lockers or locked pouches during the school day. This policy is crucial in creating a distraction-free environment that allows students to focus on their studies and social interactions. And, last, far more unsupervised play and childhood independence. That’s the way children naturally develop social skills, overcome anxiety, and become self-governing young adults. Some money quotes? “My central claim in this book is that these two trends—overprotection in the real world and underprotection in the virtual world—are the major reasons why children born after 1995 became the anxious generation.” “People don’t get depressed when they face threats collectively; they get depressed when they feel isolated, lonely, or useless.” “The two big mistakes we’ve made: overprotecting children in the real world (where they need to learn from vast amounts of direct experience) and underprotecting them online (where they are particularly vulnerable during puberty).” “While the reward-seeking parts of the brain mature earlier, the frontal cortex—essential for self-control, delay of gratification, and resistance to temptation—is not up to full capacity until the mid-20s, and preteens are at a particularly vulnerable point in development” “In this new phone-based childhood, free play, attunement, and local models for social learning are replaced by screen time, asynchronous interaction, and influencers chosen by algorithms. Children are, in a sense, deprived of childhood.” “We don’t let preteens buy tobacco or alcohol, or enter casinos. The costs of using social media, in particular, are high for adolescents, compared with adults, while the benefits are minimal. Let children grow up on Earth first, before sending them to Mars.” “Stress wood is a perfect metaphor for children, who also need to experience frequent stressors in order to become strong adults.” “Children can only learn how to not get hurt in situations where it is possible to get hurt, such as wrestling with a friend, having a pretend sword fight, or negotiating with another child to enjoy a seesaw when a failed negotiation can lead to pain in one’s posterior, as well as embarrassment. When parents, teachers, and coaches get involved, it becomes less free, less playful, and less beneficial. Adults usually can’t stop themselves from directing and protecting.” “By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids’ eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale.” “Gen Z became the first generation in history to go through puberty with a portal in their pockets that called them away from the people nearby and into an alternative universe that was exciting, addictive, unstable, and—as I will show—unsuitable for children and adolescents.” “Over the course of many decades, we found ways to protect children while mostly allowing adults to do what they want. Then quite suddenly, we created a virtual world where adults could indulge any momentary whim, but children were left nearly defenseless. As evidence mounts that phone-based childhood is making our children mentally unhealthy, socially isolated, and deeply unhappy, are we okay with that trade-off? Or will we eventually realize, as we did in the 20th century, that we sometimes need to protect children from harm even when it inconveniences adults?” “We are embodied creatures; children should learn how to manage their bodies in the physical world before they start spending large amounts of time in the virtual world.” “One way that companies get more users is by failing to enforce their own rules prohibiting users under 13. In August 2019, I had a video call with Mark Zuckerberg, who, to his credit, was reaching out to a wide variety of people, including critics. I told him that when my children started middle school, they each said that most of the kids in their class (who were 10 or 11 at the start of sixth grade) had Instagram accounts. I asked Zuckerberg what he planned to do about that. He said, “But we don’t allow anyone under 13 to open an account.” I told him that before our call I had created a fake account for a fictional 13-year-old girl and I encountered no attempt to verify my age claim. He said, “We’re working on that.” While writing this chapter (in August 2023), I effortlessly created another fake account. There is still no age verification, even though age verification techniques have gotten much better in the last four years nor is there any disincentive for preteens to lie about their age.” “Our kids can do so much more than we let them. Our culture of fear has kept this truth from us. They are like racehorses stuck in the stable.” “Many of the best adventures are going to happen with other children in free play. “And when that play includes kids of mixed ages, the learning is deepened because children learn best by trying something that is just a little beyond their current abilities— in other words, something a slightly older kid is doing. Older kids can also benefit from interacting with younger kids, taking on the role of a teacher or older sibling. So, the best thing you can do for your young children is to give them plenty of playtime, with some age diversity, and a secure loving base from which they set off to play. “As for your own interactions with your child, they don’t have to be “optimized.” You don’t have to make every second special or educational. “It’s a relationship, not a class. But what you do often matters far more than what you say, so watch your own phone habits. Be a good role model who is not giving continuous partial attention to both the phone and the child.”

Can't think of a more poignant topic affecting our society today than this - the consequential effects of smartphone over usage in our lives, and how it negatively affects children. Its insane. The reason I bought this book was after seeing the chart (or, graph) on the percent of high school seniors who agreed with the statement "Life Often Feels Meaningless." I was like, wait, what? As a result, I felt compelled to buy the book because I wanted to know what is going on here. I seriously think every parent or anyone interested in helping the next generation, to read this book due to the existential nature of the rising mental health crisis among our youth today. Regarding the book itself - the writing is excellent and easy to read. I really liked how the author's numerous citations for the reader to look-up for their own further investigation. Totally Pro - I wish more authors did this outside of Academia. In particular, I found the following three chapters to be especially illuminating: "Why social media harms girls more than boys," "What is happening to boys?", and "Spiritual elevation and degradation." Despite the perils of smartphone overuse, the author provides solutions to what can be done at the parental, school, and tech company & government levels. So despite many of the tragedies he discusses throughout the book, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Finally, the key takeaway from having read this book is that we all have a role to play in society as to how we choose to use our devices (for both young and old, but especially the young). I think if we are vigilant to fight against the stranglehold technology has in our life, we can make society better for everyone.

This book has insights that are vital to rescuing our young people from their smart phone addiction. As a teacher, I’ve seen evidence of how technology has affected our youth. I was thrilled when our school started a “no cell phones out during the school day.” It didn’t mean they couldn’t check their phones while at their lockers or for an emergency, but students started talking to each other rather than staring down at their phones. And parents need to be more active in monitoring at home, which can be challenging. This book explains why this is so important and gives steps to help correct or avoid our cell phone saturation problem. (And that applies to almost all of us.) I will say that the readability of this book is difficult at times. The author writes a lot about his research, but this gets better as the book goes on. I would prefer if much of that had been referenced in the back of the book for people who want that information.

COMMENTS ABOUT JONATHAN HAIDT’S THE ANXIOUS GENERATION Well researched and documented. Practical, timely, and relevant. Deeper than one might expect. Well written and readable. Haidt’s book is especially well written. His illustrations make sense. Paragraphing is organized. Explanations are clear. Case studies are brief and obvious. It is also helpful with its suggestions for governments, schools, and parents. And who can’t identify with the generally real life examples that clarify Haidt’s points? The scope, gravity, and description of the mental health crisis borders on overkill. Something that impressed me was the depth of explanation of the dual problem—what Haidt refers to as the two whales: smartphone abuse and lack of normal play for children. I am old enough to see both problems as they developed, but they sneaked by me. Well said, Jonathan Haidt! Footnotes and references abound in this work. There are 30 pages of each. Add a substantial index. I recommend that any caring parent take time to read at least the introduction and at least parts of the first and second chapters. Some time in chapter 12 is also advisable—“What Parents Can Do Now”. It is college level reading. Haidt is an atheist, but his comments regarding the importance of religion for good mental health are noteworthy. Chapter 8. I finished this book jaded against big tech and social media. Instagram recently sent this message: “Parents want to feel confident that their teens can use social media to connect with their friends and explore their interests without having to worry about unsafe or inappropriate experiences. That's why Instagram recently introduced teen accounts with built-in limits. Users between the ages of 13 and 17 are now automatically enrolled in Instagram teen accounts. Teens under 16 will need parental permission to change these settings. To learn more, visit instagram.com/teenaccounts.” I am thinking, “Too little, too late.” This seems more like damage control. Also, will their teen accounts really work? What proof of age is there? This book focuses on what is going on with children regarding smartphone use. As we enter the age of AI, I wonder what is happening with ADULTS and their Internet contraptions and with their mental well-being.

An eyeopener and very informative.

As a Xennial born in 1981, I grew up in a world that felt almost entirely disconnected from the digital age we now know. My childhood wasn’t defined by screens; the internet didn’t exist in the way it does today, and smartphones were years away from becoming a part of our everyday lives. Fast forward to today, and I find myself not only navigating the challenges of adult life with a smartphone in hand, but also parenting a child who is already becoming immersed in the digital world. This is the tension at the heart of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness—and it’s one that Jonathan Haidt explores in this startling and thought-provoking book. Haidt offers a hard-hitting analysis of how the dramatic shift in childhood experiences, fueled by screen time and digital immersion, is causing a mental health crisis. He doesn’t just argue that we’ve lost control over how children engage with technology, but he emphasizes the profound and often damaging effects this digital transformation has on developing minds. As a parent, I found myself both haunted and enlightened by the stories of how kids today are growing up under constant digital influence. For me, it’s not just about my own relationship with technology (though, let’s face it, the constant pull of my phone is hard to ignore). It’s about my child. My son may be too young for a smartphone, but already, at just six years old, I’m seeing how YouTube videos—the kind that glorify luxury toys, lavish lifestyles, and endless, rule-free play—are shaping his world. The influencers he watches lead a life that seems far removed from anything he could imagine, and it’s almost impossible for me not to wonder how this affects his ability to focus, to find joy in simple, non-digital experiences. The concept of "the great rewiring of childhood" struck me most profoundly. The book paints a stark picture of how today's kids are growing up in a constant feedback loop of dopamine hits, designed to grab their attention and keep them hooked. It's not just that our kids are distracted, it’s that they are actively being conditioned to expect instant gratification, to struggle with deep focus, and to navigate the world through fragmented, bite-sized content. It’s no surprise that anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are on the rise. But here’s the irony: I read The Anxious Generation on a digital device. I didn’t pick up a hardcover. Instead, I used an e-reader, the very kind of tool Haidt warns about in his book. It was impossible for me to escape the irony of digesting a book about the dangers of digital immersion while using the very technology it critiques. This only amplified the book's message, making me reflect more deeply on how even as I try to understand the problem, I am still caught in the web of digital influence. It’s a reminder of how hard it is to break free, even when you’re aware of the issue. The Anxious Generation isn’t just for parents. It's for anyone who uses technology—basically, all of us. Haidt pulls no punches in showing how we’re all complicit in allowing the internet to rewire us, how we’re all susceptible to the addictive qualities of endless scrolling and the demands of a digital world that never turns off. As much as I recognize the benefits of connectivity, I also feel the weight of how deeply this addiction is eroding not just our children’s mental health, but our own sense of well-being. This book challenges us to take action—not just for the sake of the next generation, but for ourselves. We are handing over our time, our focus, and our mental health to the internet in ways that we’re only just beginning to understand. If we don’t acknowledge this problem, if we don’t make conscious decisions about how we interact with technology, we risk losing something much deeper than just time. We risk losing our humanity. The Anxious Generation is a wake-up call. It’s not a doomsday prophecy, but it is a call to action. We need to understand how we got here, what’s at stake, and what we can do to reclaim our lives—and the lives of our children—before it’s too late.

This is a great read for any parent. The author is repetitive at times, but it does serve to drive home a lot of the key points of the book. It definitely opened my eyes and has guided me in how I approach technology and screen time with my kids.

Wow! What a book! Everyone needs to read this. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or human; it needs to be read. Seeing the statistics on mental health, especially on adolescents, has declined since the use of smartphones is shocking. Kids need to get back to free play with more time outdoors. There is a lot of studies that back up what needs to be done. If you’re worried about you or your child using tech, give this a read. There is also a graphic novel for younger ones.

Back side was torn

Great book - a must read for parents concerned about what screens are doing to our kids. I refer to it often in my work with families.

Dans l’air du temps ,visionnaire ,nécessaire signal d’alarme ,merci infiniment prof Haidt pour ce livre « manifeste » !!

Such an important book. It finally confirms that my reasoning I intuitively clung to when deciding there were no smartphones, tablets and what not for my kids was absolutely astute. It's a must read for parents and really anybody. Not polarizing, but scientific. Not trying to blame, but empowering parents.

As advertised. Timely delivery.