Episode 447: Jonathan Haidt: Smartphones and the Anxious Generation - What Parents Need to Know

from Habits and Hustle

by Jen Cohen and Habit Nest

Published: Tue May 06 2025

Show Notes

What if smartphones are causing the youth mental health crisis? In this episode of the Habits and Hustle podcast, I talk with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, as he reveals how the "great rewiring of childhood" between 2010-2015led to alarming increases in anxiety and depression among children and teens.

We discuss how we've created a contradictory world of overprotection in real life but underprotection online, leaving children vulnerable to predators and mental health challenges. We also dive into why play is essential (he calls it "Vitamin P"), how technology fragments attention spans, and why collective action is our best hope for change.

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist, Professor at NYU, and co-founder of Let Grow, an organization dedicated to promoting childhood independence. His books include "The Anxious Generation" and "The Coddling of the American Mind."

What We Discuss:

The Anxious Generation: Understanding the Rise of Anxiety

Social Media's Impact on Girls vs. Boys

The Importance of Play in Child Development

The Concept of Anti-Fragility in Children

The Importance of Risk in Child Development

The Case for Phone-Free Schools

The Impact of Technology on Education

Declining Test Scores and Educational Equity

The Dangers of Multitasking

Screen Time: Good vs. Bad Uses

Social Skills and Mental Health Crisis