Latest news with #AnxiousGeneration
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
The Anxious Generation
Martha revisits her conversation with social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt discussing his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' He explains the unique childhood experience for Gen Z growing up surrounded by electronic devices. Jonathan details how the prevalence of smartphones and social media platforms during such a transformative time for young folks has spurred a mental health epidemic and gives advice to parents on how to help their children weather the dangers of the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Four steps we can take to improve mental health, especially among youth
As a parent of tweens (10 and almost 12), I'm forever reminded of how little I know and how "cringe" I can be. And to be honest, I'm fine with my lack of knowledge of skibidi and cybertrucks and the latest skincare trends. But when it comes to understanding what's going on in youth mental health, I'm not so nonchalant. I want to know better to do better. I'm constantly reminded that the world they are growing up in is very different than the world in which I grew up. In the 1980s and 90s, we didn't have 24/7 visuals on what our peers were doing and algorithms designed to keep us scrolling. I have followed the many headlines about the growing youth mental health crisis. And it strikes me: the problem is not our teens. The problem is the conditions in which they are growing up. As Dr. Lisa Damour reminds us, teens are not fragile or damaged; it's normal to have intense emotions that go up and down, and the single most powerful force in teen mental health is strong relationships with caring adults. More: Lindner Center of Hope $38 million building to expand mental health treatment | Going Up As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, I am thinking of the steps each one of us can take to improve mental health and well-being in our community − and especially among youth. Here are some things we all can do: Practice ASK (Acknowledge, Support, and Keep in touch) with people in your life who may be struggling with their mental health. Encourage social connection − join a group that gathers regularly around a hobby, fitness, community service, or professional interest. Strengthen safe and supportive spaces for youth by being a safe, trusted adult. Lean into curiosity and empathy. Improve your conversational skills by talking to youth about emotions with resources at Sound It Out Together More: Ohio Senate votes to ban students from using phones during school hours Recently, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!) held a virtual conversation with Jonathan Haidt, author of the best-selling book "Anxious Generation." With powerful data and stories, he reminded us that "we are overprotecting our children in the real world while underprotecting them online." And he encouraged the Cincinnati community to join other cities nationally in building four new norms that create a healthier foundation for childhood in the digital age: No phones in school all day. Many local schools are grappling with cell phone policies. At Cincinnati Country Day, an "away all day" policy has made a positive impact, and even students like it. This type of policy is backed by evidence: 60% of students report spending at least 10% of class time on their phones. No smartphones until high school. While admittedly hard, this gets easier as more families align in setting a new norm. Safe-tech phones that offer calling, texting, and apps without internet access are a good option for middle school years. No social media until age 16. Research supports aligning children's access to technology with their developmental growth. Experts recommend waiting until 16, when impulse control and emotional regulation have progressed. Give kids more freedom to play without supervision. Allowing more independence and responsibility, like walking home from school or making the family dinner, brings kids joy and builds confidence. This month, I'm reflecting on the ways I can better show up for my kids and for kids in our community − and especially how I can help build better connections and experiences in real life (or IRL, as they would say). We all have a role to play in establishing new norms that provide a better childhood and a brighter future for our youth. I invite you to be part of this movement. Our kids deserve it. Kate Schroder is president and CEO of Interact for Health. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you are not alone. Call or text the 988-suicide crisis hotline. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Establishing new norms for kids is key to good mental health | Opinion
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Childhood Cell Phone Use Is A Public Health Risk
Students using mobile phone at the elementary school A decade ago, I treated a 16-year-old boy who reported suicidal thoughts. His parents, hunched over his stretcher, could not identify a glaring, inciting event. They assured me their house was overflowing with peace. When I spoke with the boy alone, he confided: 'I'm suicidal because my friends never like my Facebook posts.' It was the first time I, an emergency physician, witnessed the emotional toll of cell phone use and social media on children. In today's digital world, smartphones and social media shape how children interact, communicate, and view themselves. Rising rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal behavior among children are multifactorial — and increasingly linked to these technologies. Yet there is little regulation of cell phone and social media use by children. 'There are millions of users under age 13 using these products every day,' says Zach Rausch, Associate Research Scientist at NYU and Chief Researcher for The Anxious Generation. The 1998 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act requires parental consent for kids under 13 using social apps. While well-intentioned, the age verification process is built on an honor system, making the process very porous. Children can easily bypass age gates or click a button claiming parental approval. 'There's no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or TikTok,' says Senator Brian Schatz, who introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act. And yet we know 40% of children between 8 and 12 use social media. The bill proposes setting the minimum age for social media at 13, preventing algorithmic content for users under 17, and banning social media apps from federally funded school devices. Tech companies Meta, Google and X have lobbied against such reforms. 'There's a huge profit motive,' Rausch says. 'Getting younger users and having them spend more time online is good for business.' Tech companies are not incentivized to provide strict regulations in a world where usership leads to revenue. In this world, companies are positioned to see children as the product. 'Children don't need smartphones as early as they are getting them,' says Titania Jordan, Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies. Bark, a tech company focused on safe cell phone use, allows children to communicate with trusted contacts. Activity on the phone is closely monitored by parents. Bark reports their annual rates of problematic content online that users experience. The 2024 report shows rates of content related to bullying, depression, suicidal ideation are concerning and increasing. 'Parents should know predators spend all day and all night figuring out ways to get to children,' says School Resource Officer David Gomez. Gomez, a police officer, educates families about digital safety and is especially concerned by the exchange of explicit images. 'They are like trading cards,' he says, adding that nude photos are being used as a currency where people trade photos — of themselves or other people — for other goods and services. When a classmate or unknown predator has access to someone's nude photos a destructive power dynamic is created. The legality of phones in schools, and the sharing of private photos, is murky. Katie Greer, a national internet safety expert, adds that laws around digital harm vary by state. For her, safety starts with parent involvement. 'If we want them to be safe, parents need to be actively engaged,' she says. She cautions against relying solely on monitoring software: 'For every monitor, there's an 11-year-old on YouTube teaching how to get around it,' she warns. She recommends curiosity over control: 'Tell your kids, 'I don't get Snapchat. Can you show me how it works?'' Engaging in shared learning opens conversation and builds trust. Beyond harmful content that is being shared freely, social media affects children's ability to think clearly and stay focused. 'Apps feed endless headlines and curated posts — it drives addiction,' says psychiatrist Dr. Cassandra Raphael. Little content is ever discussed in long form. 'Having the mind actively switch from topic to topic is impacting their ability to sustain attention,' Raphael adds. She has young patients read in her office to assess this decline. Many struggle to sustain attention or comprehend what they read — signs of impaired executive function. 'A like or new follower gives a dopamine hit,' she adds. The result is compulsive checking, like a gambler at a slot machine. Over time, constant dopamine spikes can lead to 'popcorn brain,' a term coined by Professor David Levy. It describes a scattered thought pattern, where unlike multi-tasking, popcorn brain invokes a lack of control of thought. The condition is considered to be worsened by the user experience on social media apps. A father and son at home pulling taking a selfie together on a smartphone. The decision to give a child a phone is deeply personal. 'It's a family choice,' says Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. 'Parents know what their child can handle.' But she urges parents to ask: Who would you go to if you felt unsafe? What would you do if you saw something wrong in a group chat. 'Children need to demonstrate maturity to keep that privilege,' she adds. Based on her expertise, age alone shouldn't determine readiness — emotional maturity must guide the choice. She emphasizes that phones can be taken away if problems arise. The challenge here is that many parents want the access to their children cell phones provide. Waktins explains that cell phones can be an integral part of how parents manage their kids' lives, such as a sending cash or food delivery. She acknowledges parents may fear their kids will feel isolated without smartphones and in areas affected by violence, phones can offer a safer way to connect from home. However she emphasizes that in-person interactions are crucial for developing social skills. Parents have also cited mass casualty events as a reason to give their child a phone, Gomez empathizes but urges caution. 'In a real emergency, students should be alert — not on their phones, potentially jamming emergency lines.' Dr. Sree Natesan, an emergency physician and mother of four, saw early how phones disrupt family life. 'We started to talk to them about phones when they were 3 or 4 years old,' she says. She recognized how technology can take over the home environment and leave family members distracted and out of the moment. To prevent the same disconnect for her family, her children don't have phones. That's part of their family culture. Dr. Sree Natesan and her daughter, Samiya, hugging and smiling together Despite not having phones, she still encourages education about digital devices. 'We try to learn together about apps. We want our kids to feel empowered to make decisions about technology, not restricted.' Her daughter Samiya, now 16, admits it's been at times challenging to not have a cell phone. But her parents' consistency helps. She understands that delaying cell phone use is part of their family value system. 'My friends know our rules are different, and they respect that,' she says. At a recent ROTC camp — where phones were banned — she noticed how different the experience felt. 'We were more connected and more in tune with ourselves,' she says. Steps Parents Can Take:
