The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, is a book for anyone who cares about kids and teenagers and the effect that technology, especially social media and smartphones, is having on their developing brains. The author, who does not write from just a Christian perspective, gives a strong warning about how phones are quietly changing not just kids’ behavior but also how their brains develop. It is packed with research and data to make all the needed facts very clear. Haidt argues that somewhere between 2010 and 2015, something fundamental in childhood changed. Kids stopped playing outside as much, parents became more protective, and smartphones became constant companions, entertainers, and babysitters. The result? A massive, measurable rise in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and self-harm, especially among teenage girls, and a change in boys being more socially isolated and not taking risks. Some of his key points:
- Play in the real world is not optional! Kids use play to learn how to interact in the real world. The virtual world cannot replicate this. Children and teens then experience anxiety as they are not prepared to handle real-world situations or interactions.
- Many parents are overprotecting offline while allowing excessive online exposure. Children are no longer encouraged to go out and play with others in unstructured play, but parents are not supervising the interactions kids and teens have online, which can be very dangerous.
It might seem like there is no solution to this problem, but Haidt offers some effective strategies for addressing it at the home level and in larger settings, such as schools and communities. Some ways this could be done are by delaying when phones (and tablets) are given to children. The average age kids get a phone is 12, and it’s just too young. Tablets often have the same capabilities and are given to kids, often very young. Another way would be through the encouragement of outdoor unstructured play to encourage and build reasoning skills, conflict resolution, and trust. He strongly encouraged schools and community groups to create tech-free zones.
While this might just be one reason that anxiety has risen so dramatically, we don’t need to lose hope. This book could be a wake-up call for those raising and caring for kids and teens. Let’s try to make changes to help the next generation be free from the anxiety that technology has created.
