Book Review: The Anxious Generation - by K. Liam Smith
Jonathan Haidt’s new book, The Anxious Generation, is on track to becoming the best selling social science book of 2024. But it’s not just selling well. It’s also on track to become one of the most politically influential books on the impact of technology on society. Haidt argues that the new digital childhood centered around smartphones has led to an epidemic of mental health disorders for children and teens. The book has set off a domino effect. Shortly after it was published the US Surgeon General called for warnings on social media like we do with cigarette cartons. Then immediately afterwards the LA public school district—which provides education for a population the size of Norway—took part of Haidt’s advice and voted to ban smartphones and social media in schools. Then Governor Newsom said he’s considering similar steps for the entire state of California. New York quickly followed suit. In the UK, two mothers self organized a group for a phone-free childhood and now they have te
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