The Russell Moore Show Jonathan Haidt’s Newest Thoughts on Technology, Anxiety, and the War for Our Attention
31 snips
Sep 10, 2025 
In this discussion, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author known for his insights on technology and mental health, addresses the troubling impact of smartphones and social media on youth anxiety and attention spans. He explores how technology disrupts spiritual practices and suggests phone-free churches for better worship engagement. Haidt also contrasts mental health trends in Western and East Asian cultures, highlights the challenges AI poses for faith communities, and shares strategies for fostering deeper connections in a digital age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Attention Fragmentation Is The Bigger Threat
- Attention fragmentation from phones is a wider, global problem than mental-health rises alone.
- Losing sustained attention threatens book reading, deep thought, and cultural transmission.
Audit And Limit Distracting Apps
- Audit your digital habits and remove apps that interrupt and fragment attention.
- Make your phone a tool again by avoiding social media and short-video apps on it.
Digital Overstimulation Produces Anhedonia
- Heavy, repetitive digital stimulation creates anhedonia and lowers the ability to enjoy ordinary life.
- Young people feel bored off-screen because their reward thresholds were raised by constant stimulation.
