

The Great Rewiring of Childhood
24 snips Mar 28, 2024
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt joins to discuss the impact of technology on mental health, focusing on Gen Z and the rise of mental illness. They delve into solutions, French vs. English Enlightenment, and parenting challenges in the digital age.
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The Great Rewiring of Childhood
- Teen mental health sharply declined worldwide starting around 2012, linked to the rise of smartphones and social media.
- This "great rewiring of childhood" moved social lives online, disrupting normal development.
Safetyism Meets Smartphones
- Overprotection in the real world and underprotection online created a one-two punch harming child development.
- The rise of "safetyism" locked kids up physically while smartphones exposed them to harmful digital environments.
Social Media as a Dart Gun
- Social media gave everyone a "dart gun" to attack others with zero cost, creating a culture of fear and caution in speech.
- The like and retweet buttons, plus threaded comments, amplified viral negativity and hostility.