The Fracturing of the American Mind featuring Jonathan Haidt and Guests (S3 Ep.17)
May 27, 2022
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Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff discuss the impact of social media on political polarization and mental health. They also delve into the worsening state of freedom of speech on college campuses, the devastating effects of social media on teenage girls' mental health, and the disproportionate impact on young women. Additionally, they address the negative effects of play deprivation and moralistic communities, and explore potential solutions to the problems arising from social media.
Social media has had a significant negative impact on mental health, particularly among young women, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and self-harm.
Structural changes to social media and political institutions are necessary to address the challenges posed by social media, while maintaining free speech and avoiding excessive censorship and misinformation control.
Deep dives
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health and Political Polarization
The podcast episode discusses the impact of social media on mental health and political polarization. It highlights how social media has transformed human relationships, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and self-harm, particularly among young women. The podcast also explores how social media has contributed to the fragmentation of society and the rise of cancel culture. The guests emphasize that while the overall effect size of social media on mental health may be small, it is significantly higher for girls, warranting concern and caution. Additionally, the podcast delves into the influence of social media on political activism, with girls on the left being more fearful and morally supportive of mask mandates. Lastly, the episode touches on the importance of play and outdoor activities for children's development, and the negative consequences of school closures and increased screen time during the pandemic.
The Need for Structural Changes and Increased Agency
The podcast explores potential solutions to the challenges posed by social media. One approach discussed is changing the algorithms of social media platforms to prioritize positive content and reduce profit-seeking motives. However, the guests also caution against excessive censorship and misinformation control as alternative solutions. They emphasize the need for structural changes to social media and political institutions, highlighting the current weakening of institutions and the detrimental impact on free speech. Additionally, the episode emphasizes the importance of individual agency and courage in standing up for truth, decency, and open dialogue. The guests encourage private conversations and interventions as a means to address divisive issues and foster constructive discussions. They also express hope in younger generations embracing independent thinking and rejecting polarizing ideologies.
Youth Perspectives and the Future
The podcast touches on the perspectives and experiences of younger generations. It mentions the growing trend of young people registering as independents and distancing themselves from the polarizing nature of political parties. The guests highlight the importance of amplifying the voices of young individuals who may not conform to the prevailing narratives within elite institutions. The episode also reveals future plans for the guests to co-author a book that challenges the denial of cancel culture and aims to provide practical solutions. Overall, the discussion offers hope for a plurality of young people who question the current cultural climate and seek to foster open dialogue and free expression.
This episode is a recording of a live event that I did with Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott. Jonathan Haidt is a professor at the NYU Stern School of Business. He is also the co-founder of Heterodox Academy, which I once wrote a blog post for back when I was probably 21 years old. Jonathan is the author of many books including "The Happiness Hypothesis", "The Righteous Mind", and "The Coddling of the American Mind" with his co-author Gregory Lukianoff.
Greg Lukianoff is the president of FIRE which is the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and probably the pre-eminent defender of free speech on college campuses. Greg is also the producer of several documentaries about free speech and is also a trained lawyer. Rikki Schlott is a columnist for the New York Post, a fellow at FIRE, a contributor at Reason Magazine, and the host of the Lost Debate Podcast.
We all discuss what has changed since Jonathan and Greg published "The Coddling of the American Mind" back in 2018. We talk about the effect of social media on political polarization and mental health. We also discuss Jonathan's recent viral Atlantic essay called "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid", and many other related topics. Unfortunately, because of the constraints of the live event, this is a shorter podcast than usual. However, I'm getting Jonathan back on the podcast very soon to have a full-length discussion about all this stuff.
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