Novara Media

Downstream: Big Tech Is Making Our Children Depressed and Anxious. Here’s How w/ Jonathan Haidt

12 snips
May 19, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Haidt, a prominent social psychologist and professor at NYU, dives into the mental health crisis facing Generation Z. He critiques big tech companies like Meta and TikTok for their roles in exacerbating anxiety and depression among youth. Haidt highlights the harmful effects of social media, particularly on young girls' self-esteem, and draws alarming parallels between tech's exploitative practices and tobacco companies. He also shares insights on how to restore childhood by advocating for reduced screen time and fostering outdoor play.
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INSIGHT

Childhood Brain Wiring Crucial

  • Childhood wires up the brain for culture through play, which is a biological imperative.
  • Technology hijacking this wiring leads to negative developmental outcomes.
INSIGHT

Decline of Outdoor Play

  • Childhood lost outdoor play drastically in the 1990s across Anglophone countries.
  • This led to locking kids indoors even as crime rates dropped.
INSIGHT

Mental Health Crisis and Community

  • Mental health crisis sharply increased around 2012-2013 in Western countries.
  • Secular, liberal, and non-religious kids show the largest increases in depression and anxiety.
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