UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Jonathan Haidt: PornHub and Instagram are killing childhood
26 snips
Apr 19, 2024 
Jonathan Haidt discusses the impact of smartphones and social media on youth mental health, highlighting increased depression rates. He also explores the effects of easily accessible pornography on adolescent sexual development and the negative impact of social media addiction on children's mental health and social skills.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Global Mental Health Decline
- Youth mental health decline is a global issue, affecting multiple Western countries similarly and simultaneously.
- This suggests a common cause beyond country-specific factors like politics or school shootings.
Smartphones and Mental Health
- The shift from flip phones to smartphones correlates with the decline in youth mental health.
- Smartphones provide constant internet access and are designed to keep users engaged for advertising purposes.
From Tool to Portal
- Jonathan Haidt compares early iPhones to Swiss Army knives – useful tools with specific functions.
- The App Store and push notifications transformed smartphones into addictive portals, constantly vying for attention.