“The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation.” ― Anna Lembke, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence

Jonathan Haidt references Anna Lembke in his book, The Anxious Generation, which I recently read. Released in March 2024, the book reveals a multitude of research studies supporting what we, as educators, have witnessed over the last 15 years in the classroom: decreased motivation and attention span, and unhappy, depressed students.

Our reliance on and addiction to devices—phones, tablets, laptops—extends beyond the classroom. I've known the addiction was bad, but Haidt paints a bleak picture of the future, highlighting various mental health and other concerns. However, he also offers potential solutions if everyone takes steps to address the issues. Links to Haidt’s research and studies can be found at The Anxious Generation Book website.

Here are my THREE main takeaways from the book:

Brain and Social Development

Overprotection in the “Real” World vs. Under-protection in the Digital World

The term “helicopter parent” has existed since the late 1960s, but it became more common in the mid-1990s. Several cultural changes led to increased overprotection of children during this period.

In her book How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims identifies four main reasons for this increased protection: abduction fears, increased homework, lack of play influenced by the report A Nation at Risk, the self-esteem movement, and the creation of the playdate (Lythcott-Haims, 2015).

This overprotection in the real world led to underprotection in the virtual world. By shielding our children from physical dangers, parents inadvertently exposed them to online video games (mostly boys), social media influencers, and online predators. Social media platforms prey on young girls, exacerbating social comparison and increasing feelings of loneliness and depression despite the appearance of connectedness.

Haidt’s Recommendations for Better Mental Health

Conclusion

I'll leave you with these questions to ponder:

• How many of us, as adults, can or are willing to reduce our screen time?
• Can we, as adults, tell our children they can't be on their devices while we are actively on ours?
• Are schools willing to push and enforce no cell phone zones, and more importantly, model it for students?
• Are parents willing to support administrators and teachers that enforce no cell phone use in schools?
• Can or will companies, specifically social media companies, “increase security” so those under the required ages are unable to access?
• How can children reduce their time or change their behavior when “connectedness” is all that they know?