Why Modern America is Raising Fragile Children | Jonathan Haidt – BIGTHINK
Kids are more anxious and depressed than ever. Is identity politics to blame? Generation Z, born from 1995 onwards, has been raised with “moral dependency,” argues social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. As the first generation to get social media at age 13, Gen Z has been denied the independence that previous generations enjoyed — the “free play,” the time spent off devices. In general, Haidt argues that this generation is more fragile and sensitive to conflict, insults, and exclusion, making them less adept at solving problems on their own. And Haidt believes that overprotection has made them weaker and easily discouraged. That’s why teaching critical thinking and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be the key to helping young people question their initial interpretations and improve their mental health. Haidt also discusses identity politics, differentiating between “common humanity” and “common enemy” approaches. Fostering a sense of commonality rather than division, Haidt argues, is essential for creating inclusive and diverse environments in educational institutions and society at large.
About Jonathan Haidt: Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He is the author of The Righteous Mind and The Happiness Hypothesis.
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Chapters:
0:00 Kids born after 1995
1:25 Locking kids up
2:00 The end of independence
3:05 What are triggers?
3:30 Psychological habits to break
4:04 Habit #1: Motivated reasoning
5:14 Cognitive behavioral therapy
6:28 Habit #2: Tribalism
7:29 Good and bad identity politics
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Mayim Bialik's Breakdown
Jonathan Haidt: Childhood Has Been Hijacked
The Anxious Epidemic is REVEALED. Jonathan Haidt Exposes the HEARTBREAKING ways our technology is designed to make us Addicted.
Learn how Tech is Ruining Childhood & hijacking all of our ATTENTION.
We’re breaking down the SINISTER Evolution of how Smartphones are Ruining Childhood, impacting education, mental health, and even safety…and what we can do about it.
Sharing scientific evidence that traces global mental health collapse directly back to smartphone usage, Jonathan Haidt (Social psychologist, NYU professor, bestselling author) reveals why Gen Z is in CRISIS, including why they’re anxious, socially inept, and addicted to technology.
PLUS….is there HOPE? Haidt shares his BOLD plan for collective action to restore a “human childhood”!
Jonathan Haidt also breaks down:
– Physical & social causes and symptoms of tech addiction in kids
– How losing trust in neighbors & institutions is destroying our children’s innocence
– Why the devastating impact of shame on kids is worse than you think
– Are half-measures enough when it comes to curbing your child’s tech use?
– Boys vs. Girls Online: How social media algorithms are designed to target and hook our kids
– Why free play is essential for development into competent adults
– How some level of adversity in childhood leads to critical problem-solving skills in adulthood
Find yourself wondering why it seems impossible to curb your child’s screen time? Don’t let your kid become a STATISTIC – TUNE IN to MBB now for practical resources to protect their future!
Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book
Givers, Doers, & Thinkers—A Podcast on Philanthropy and Civil Society
From the Archive: Jonathan Haidt & fostering resilience in the age of anxiety
This week on Givers, Doers, & Thinkers, we are opening the archive to share three particularly relevant episodes. The first episode features social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who shares his thoughts on the moral intuitions and untruths that separate us but perhaps don't need to.
Jonathan Haidt is a You might know him from his New York Times bestseller, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure. He is also a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Jonathan has helped found various organizations to strengthen his corners of civil society through Let Grow, Heterodox Academy, and OpenMind.
Jeremy chats with Jonathan dive into several provocative questions, including—What is civil society’s exoskeleton? Why are white liberals more depressed? Is social media disastrous for civil society? How did the mental health epidemic among teenagers birth wokeness? What is devasting Gen-Z? How is the death of unsupervised play corrosive in the habits of a democracy? All of this and more in today’s episode with Jonathan Haidt.
We'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas, questions, and recommendations for the podcast! You can shoot Katie Janus, GDT's producer, an email anytime!
Be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube to make sure you never miss an episode!
Center for Civil Society's YouTube Channel
TRIGGERnometry
We're Heading for Civilisational Collapse – Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist and author. His main areas of study are the psychology of morality and moral emotions. Haidt has written several best-selling books for general audiences, including The Happiness Hypothesis (2006) examining the relationship between ancient philosophies and modern science, The Righteous Mind (2012) on moral politics, and The Coddling of the American Mind (2018) on rising political polarisation, mental health, and college culture. In 2024, he published The Anxious Generation, arguing that the rise of smartphones and overprotective parenting have led to a “rewiring” of childhood and a rise in mental illness.
Check out The Anxious Generation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593655036/
Follow Jonathan on X: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt
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The Screenagers Podcast
Jonathan Haidt Explains the Youth Mental Health Crisis (Encore)
This holiday season, it is inevitable that many young people will be gifted new smartphones, smartwatches, video games and other personal technology.
With this in mind, today we’re bringing back this important conversation with Jonathan Haidt, author of one of 2024’s most talked about and best selling books The Anxious Generation, who joined Dr. Delaney to discuss the sheer amount of time that young people are on screens and the connection of this to the rise in mental health problems.
What do actual experiments show us about the link between teen mental health and screen time? Why is the time of puberty particularly concerning when it comes to handing over smartphones and social media? Why does social media seem to impact girls more negatively than boys? These are just some of the questions that this episode addresses.
In addition, Haidt offers two solutions for improving teen mental health.
This episode is not just for adults but also for teens who are directly affected by these issues. Please note, suicidal ideation is mentioned briefly in the episode.
Featured Expert
Research References
Links to research discussed in the episode
Additional Links
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Time Code
00:00 Introduction to The Screenagers Podcast
00:23 Meet Jonathan Haidt, Author and Social Psychologist
01:29 The Anxious Generation: Key Insights
02:06 Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
03:52 Gender Differences in Mental Health Trends
05:57 Correlational and Experimental Studies on Screen Time
09:04 The Natural Experiment of Facebook’s Rollout
12:31 The Hidden Dangers of Social Media
16:59 Aggression and Social Cruelty Online
19:25 Proposed Solutions and Parental Involvement
21:21 Conclusion and Resources
Lipstick on the Rim
How to Navigate an Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt – What Age to Give Children Phones, Raising Independent Children, the Aftermath of the Covid Pandemic, and MORE!
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s mission is to empower parents, educators, and communities to better navigate the complexities of raising children in an era marked by anxiety, polarization, and rapid change. You’ve probably heard of his most recent bestselling book, The Anxious Generation, which provides a powerful exploration of how social media, shifting cultural norms, and increasing societal pressures are impacting the mental health of today’s youth. In today’s episode, Jonathan sits down with Molly and Emese to discuss his powerful vision for a healthier, more connected future, and how we can collectively raise a generation that thrives in the face of anxiety and adversity. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone interested in the psychology of today’s youth, this conversation is sure to inspire new perspectives and actionable strategies for creating a brighter future for the next generation.
Mentioned in the episode:
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
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The Current
Time to push back on smartphone-based childhoods: Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt says technology and social media have rewired our children’s brains, and taken a heavy toll on their mental health. The social psychologist talks to Matt Galloway about his blockbuster book The Anxious Generation and the dangers of a childhood spent on screens.
Conversations
Jonathan Haidt on 'attention fracking' and how to stop tech companies from stealing your child's focus
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says it is time to reinstate the play-based childhood to bring our kids back from life online and into the real world, away from their increasing obsession with devices.
It’s a fact of modern life that children who are given smart phones are able to access pornography, real images of violence and harmful comparisons with their friends and also influencers around the world.
Social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt argues that as the social norms have changed, and younger and younger children have been allowed access to their own devices, their participation in the real world has suffered.
Jonathan’s theory is that in order to combat the addicting influence of technology on our kids’ lives, families and society must encourage and allow children to enjoy free play, independence and responsibility in the real world.
He says, rather than despairing at the current state of childhood, we have the power to give children fun, excitement and a passport to the real world.
This episode of Conversations touches on Australia’s social media ban, screen addiction, smart phones, online gaming, social media, mental health, teens, childhood, free play, children’s independence, risk, outdoor play, child development, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, gaming, and Jonathan Haidt.
Conversations
Jonathan Haidt on 'attention fracking' and how to stop tech companies from stealing your child's focus
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt says it is time to reinstate the play-based childhood to bring our kids back from life online and into the real world, away from their increasing obsession with devices.
It’s a fact of modern life that children who are given smart phones are able to access pornography, real images of violence and harmful comparisons with their friends and also influencers around the world.
Social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt argues that as the social norms have changed, and younger and younger children have been allowed access to their own devices, their participation in the real world has suffered.
Jonathan’s theory is that in order to combat the addicting influence of technology on our kids’ lives, families and society must encourage and allow children to enjoy free play, independence and responsibility in the real world.
He says, rather than despairing at the current state of childhood, we have the power to give children fun, excitement and a passport to the real world.
This episode of Conversations touches on Australia’s social media ban, screen addiction, smart phones, online gaming, social media, mental health, teens, childhood, free play, children’s independence, risk, outdoor play, child development, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, gaming, and Jonathan Haidt.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices