The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show Jonathan Haidt: How Phone Addiction & Social Media Are Making Us Anxious - And What To Do About It - Tools & Tactics
Sep 29, 2025
In this episode, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU Stern and bestselling author of The Anxious Generation, explores the mental health impacts of smartphones and social media. He discusses how short-form content is diminishing children's attention spans and why platforms like Snapchat and TikTok pose significant risks. Haidt offers practical tips for parents to manage technology use, such as setting boundaries and encouraging outdoor play. He emphasizes the need for design changes in apps to protect youth and advocates for healthier digital habits.
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Attention Loss Is The Core Harm
- The single biggest societal change is loss of sustained attention caused by short-form, addictive content.
- Jonathan Haidt argues this damage to attention may be the largest harm of smartphones and social media.
No Screens In The Bedroom
- Do not allow any screens in children's bedrooms to prevent constant personal access and addiction.
- Keep shared devices in living spaces so screens remain occasional, social tools rather than personal companions.
Block Snapchat For Kids
- Avoid letting children use Snapchat because it relentlessly connects them to strangers and facilitates sextortion.
- Remove access to apps designed for anonymous, disappearing exchanges to protect minors from predators.
