The Anxious Generation by author and researcher Jonathan Haidt, delves into how social media, academic pressures, and the fast pace of our world contribute to heightened stress and anxiety in young people. The book suggests strategies for parents to support their children and foster resilience in the face of these challenges.

We are inviting our community to read this book with our leadership team. The district will be sending out notes about the book and releasing some Pod Sup podcasts on topics related to the book. We want to invite you to follow along and to join us on November 20 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a discussion on Part IV of the book: Collective Action for a Healthier Childhood and a discussion on what parents can do to support their children.

Chapter 1 - The Surge of Suffering

Overview

Have you noticed a shift in child behavior over the last decade? Increased anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal? You’re not alone—many parents are asking: What has happened to our children? This is a question that has circulated in America and across the globe over the last decade. 

Here are some statistics shared by author Jonathan Haidt in the 2024 book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic in Mental Illness. Since 2010, we have seen: 

• A 145% increase in girls, and 161% increase in boys in major depression among teens 

• A 134% increase in anxiety, 106% increase in depression among college students

• A 134% increase in anxiety in people ages 18-25

• A 188% increase in girls emergency room visits for self-harm

• A rise in suicide rates in adolescents age 10-14 - boys 91%, girls 167% (Haidt, 24-31)

Schools across the U.S. have been grappling with the issue of mental health. Coming out of the pandemic, many attributed the rise in mental health issues to the effects of isolation and a disruption to the learning environment. Haidt, however, argues that the dramatic shift began in 2010, and he has labeled the window of 2010-2015 as the “Great Rewiring” of our children in what he terms the birth of the Phone Based Childhood.

So, what does Haidt believe has contributed to this massive shift in mental health? In The Anxious Generation, Haidt presents a compelling argument that the increase is connected to the use and dependence on the technological allure of being continuously connected to the internet and social media. Haidt argues that the brains of our children are literally being rewired by technology. Their brains begin to function differently. Writing about life with cell phones in 2015, MIT professor Sherry Turkle said, “We are forever elsewhere” (Haidt, 34)

The first “smartphone” was released in 2007 by Apple, and Samsung released their own version shortly after. Pew Research reported in 2011 that less than 25% of teens had a smartphone. That number increased to 79% by 2016 according to tracking by Common Sense Media. By 2015, Common Sense Media found “that teens with a social media account reported spending two hours a day on social media” and “an average of nearly seven hours a day of leisure time on screen media” (Haidt, 34). By 2022, Pew Research found that 46% of teens claimed to be “almost constantly” connected online (Haidt, 34). 

All of these statistics are hard to dismiss and Haidt has shaken the country with his conclusions on the impact of smartphones on children. This fall, we are embarking on a community study of the research of Jonathan Haidt. We will do this through articles like this, podcasts with our own administration talking about the content and conclusions reached by The Anxious Generation. We will be sharing with students and getting their perspective on the impact of social media on their own lives. 

Finally, we will invite parents to come participate in a community discussion on this topic November 20, 2024. We believe that no one knows your children better than you, which is why we’re hosting a community discussion where your voice is critical. As we navigate these complex issues together, we want to hear from you. What are your concerns? How have you seen social media impacting your children? The conclusion of the book does give some common sense suggestions for parents and schools, offering some hope that we can move the dial in a positive way.

Our goal is to help the community and parents make decisions for how to best support our students through this time of life. We invite you to get a copy of The Anxious Generation and begin reading the book with others. We have summarized chapter 1 above, and chapter 2 is entitled “What children need to do in childhood” and presents an argument for less technology and more play.

Please join us in this study for the benefit of our students.

Haidt, J. (2023). The Anxious Generation: How the internet and social media are affecting youth mental health. Penguin Random House.