Solutions with Henry Blodget Kids Should Have a Driver's License Before a Smartphone
Nov 3, 2025
Dr. Jean Twenge, a renowned generational researcher and author, tackles the impact of smartphones on teen mental health. She highlights alarming trends of increased loneliness and depression linked to social media usage. Twenge advocates for implementing strict tech rules for kids, including delaying social media until age 16 and tying smartphone access to obtaining a driver’s license. She also shares insights on effective parenting styles and emphasizes the importance of real-world independence in fostering resilience.
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Smartphones Coincide With Teen Mental Health Drop
- Teen mental health worsened sharply after smartphones became common, with depression and loneliness rising.
- Increased online time, reduced in-person socializing, and less sleep form a harmful trifecta for teens.
Less In-Person Time Harms Social Development
- Teens spend far less time in face-to-face interactions now, halving in-person meetups as digital use rose.
- Missing in-person practice harms social skills and emotion regulation development.
Evidence Shows More Than Correlation
- Time-series and experimental studies strengthen the case that social media contributes causally to teen depression.
- Randomized reductions in social media use produce measurable short-term improvements in mood.
