Radio Atlantic The Smartphone Kids Are Not All Right
6 snips
Mar 21, 2024 
A dialogue between a parent and their child about smartphone use. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt discusses the link between smartphones and mental health. The parent asks their child if they ruined their life. The podcast explores the impact of smartphones on teenagers' mental health and social interactions.
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Parent-Child Phone Argument
- Hannah and Jacob open the episode by arguing about Jacob's phone use and chatting with friends during the recording.
- Jacob says online friends feel real and the phone often takes priority over the immediate world.
Autism And Online Friendship
- Hannah explains Jacob is autistic and found online friendships easier during school.
- Jacob says the phone increased feelings of connection through platforms like Discord.
Mental Health Fell After Phones Became Portals
- Jonathan Haidt plots teen mental-health survey data and finds stability until about 2012–2013 then a sharp decline.
- He links that inflection to smartphones becoming pervasive portals with apps, notifications, and front-facing cameras.