Mayim Bialik's Breakdown Re-Air - Jonathan Haidt: Childhood Has Been Hijacked
Aug 8, 2025
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, a professor at NYU and author of 'The Anxious Generation,' discusses the heartbreaking impact of technology on childhood. He reveals how smartphones are hijacking attention, contributing to a rise in anxiety and social ineptitude among Gen Z. Haidt emphasizes the decline of play and community trust, linking these trends to worsening mental health. He presents a bold plan for restoring a 'human childhood' through collective action and highlights the critical need for outdoor challenges to build resilience.
01:36:43
Loss of Community and Trust
- The societal loss of trust and community started decades ago with TV and air conditioning pulling people indoors.
- This decline in social capital set the stage for later childhood changes and less community interaction.
Son Forgets Socks at Camp
- Jonathan Cohen shares a story of his son forgetting socks at camp and hesitating to solve the problem independently.
- This illustrates how kids today often lack problem-solving and self-reliance skills from overprotection and phone dependency.
Use Collective Action for Limits
- Collective action among parents and schools is key to successfully limiting children's smartphone and social media use.
- Acting together with clear norms breaks the trap that makes phone limits so difficult individually.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
The Decline of Play: Childhood in the Tech Era
05:30 • 29min
The Influence of Social Media on Real-Life Interactions
34:15 • 2min
Navigating Childhood in a Digital Age
36:26 • 22min
The Social Media Trap: Impact on Youth
58:37 • 27min
Navigating Independence: A Contrast in Problem-Solving
01:25:19 • 4min
The Importance of Outdoor Challenges in Building Resilience
01:29:01 • 3min
Navigating Conflict and Play: The Gray Areas of Childhood Interactions
01:31:50 • 3min
#81
• Mentioned in 128 episodes
The Coddling of the American Mind
Jonathan Haidt
Greg Lukianoff
The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture.
These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development.
The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.
#21
• Mentioned in 236 episodes
The Anxious Generation
Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s.
He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development.
Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility.
The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.
#1853
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The Identity Trap
A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time
Yascha Mounk
In The Identity Trap, Yascha Mounk provides a detailed analysis of the intellectual origins of 'wokeness' or 'identity synthesis,' tracing how postmodernism, postcolonialism, and critical race theory influenced this ideology.
He explains how these ideas, once marginal, gained significant influence in business, media, and government by 2020.
Mounk argues that the application of these ideas to areas such as education and public policy is counterproductive and that universal, humanist values are more effective in achieving true equality.
The book offers a balanced and analytical perspective on the appeal and limitations of identity-based politics, proposing an alternative rooted in liberal democracy's highest ideals.
#90
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Slow Productivity
The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
Cal Newport
In this book, Cal Newport draws on the habits and mindsets of historical figures like Galileo, Isaac Newton, Jane Austen, and Georgia O’Keefe to propose a new approach to productivity.
He argues against the modern culture of 'pseudo-productivity,' where busyness is mistaken for actual productivity.
Instead, Newport advocates for 'slow productivity,' which involves doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality.
The book combines cultural criticism with practical advice to help readers transform their work habits and achieve more sustainable and meaningful accomplishments.
#650
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Free range kids
giving our children the freedom we had without going nuts with worry
Lenore Skenazy
In the second edition of 'Free-Range Kids', Lenore Skenazy provides a compelling and entertaining look at how modern culture fosters excessive worry about children's safety.
Using real-world examples, advice, and humor, Skenazy argues that parents and educators can step back to allow children to develop independence.
The book includes strategies for rejecting media-driven fear, giving students more independence in schools, and navigating a culture filled with warnings and fears.
It also features 'real-world' free-range parent experiences, exercises for parents, and a critique of urban myths about safety risks.
#3627
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The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Bob Smith
This book, written primarily by Bill W. Wilson with contributions from other early members of AA, including Dr. Bob Smith, outlines the 12-step program for recovering from alcoholism.
It includes personal stories of recovery, explanations of the steps, and chapters targeting specific audiences such as employers, wives, and agnostics.
The book emphasizes the importance of a spiritual solution, community support, and abstinence in overcoming alcoholism.
It has been widely influential and has sold over 30 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.
#6
• Mentioned in 380 episodes
Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Cal Newport
In 'Deep Work', Cal Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work—professional activities in a state of distraction-free concentration—is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part explains why deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, while the second part presents four rules to transform your mind and habits to support this skill.
These rules include 'Work Deeply', 'Embrace Boredom', 'Quit Social Media', and 'Drain the Shallows'.
Newport provides actionable advice and examples from various successful individuals to help readers master the skill of deep work and achieve groundbreaking results.
#8007
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Superforecasters
The Art and Science of Prediction
Philip E. Tetlock
Philip Tetlock's "Superforecasters" delves into the world of prediction, exploring the factors that contribute to accurate forecasting.
Tetlock's research challenges the notion that expert opinions are inherently superior, demonstrating that a combination of specific cognitive skills and methods can significantly improve predictive accuracy.
The book highlights the importance of probabilistic thinking, updating beliefs based on new evidence, and recognizing the limitations of human judgment.
Tetlock's study of "superforecasters," individuals who consistently outperform experts, reveals valuable insights into the art and science of prediction.
The book offers practical strategies for improving our own forecasting abilities and making better decisions in uncertain environments.
#85
• Mentioned in 125 episodes
BOWLING ALONE
The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Robert Putnam
In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures.
He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health.
The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet.
Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.
In honor of "Supporting Young Minds Month," we are revisiting our episode with Jonathan Haidt.
The Anxious Epidemic is REVEALED. Jonathan Haidt Exposes the HEARTBREAKING ways our technology is designed to make us Addicted. Learn how Tech is Ruining Childhood & hijacking all of our ATTENTION. We're breaking down the SINISTER Evolution of how Smartphones are Ruining Childhood, impacting education, mental health, and even safety...and what we can do about it. Sharing scientific evidence that traces global mental health collapse directly back to smartphone usage, Jonathan Haidt (Social psychologist, NYU professor, bestselling author) reveals why Gen Z is in CRISIS, including why they're anxious, socially inept, and addicted to technology. PLUS....is there HOPE? Haidt shares his BOLD plan for collective action to restore a "human childhood"! Jonathan Haidt also breaks down: - Physical & social causes and symptoms of tech addiction in kids - How losing trust in neighbors & institutions is destroying our children's innocence - Why the devastating impact of shame on kids is worse than you think - Are half-measures enough when it comes to curbing your child's tech use? - Boys vs. Girls Online: How social media algorithms are designed to target and hook our kids - Why free play is essential for development into competent adults - How some level of adversity in childhood leads to critical problem-solving skills in adulthood Find yourself wondering why it seems impossible to curb your child's screen time? Don't let your kid become a STATISTIC - TUNE IN to MBB now for practical resources to protect their future!
Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book
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