On this episode of 'Other People's Parenting' hosted by mother daughter duo Karen Quinn (New York Times best selling author of The Ivy Chronicles , founder of Habit Coach and Testing Mom) and Schuyler Hurwitz (amateur parent) - we cover Jonathan Haidts popular and controversial book about the dangers of social media on the developing brain.

The focus of this episode is "The Anxious Generation," which highlights the alarming rise in mental health issues among Gen Z. We explain the author's argument that this demographic's heightened anxiety can be attributed to two primary factors: the overprotectiveness of parents and the pervasive influence of smartphones that tether children to digital interactions, inhibiting their engagement in play-based childhood experiences. Throughout our discussion, we reflect on the detrimental impact of constant connectivity and social media on children's development, particularly in relation to their attention spans and emotional well-being. We explore practical recommendations for parents seeking to mitigate these challenges by fostering healthier environments for their children. We emphasize the necessity of encouraging real-world interactions and the cultivation of resilience in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Outline:

The Anxious Generation

1. Overview – 4 parts
2. How childhood has changed and mental illness (depression, anxiety, self-harm) has risen because of 2 trends –
3. Over-protection in the real world – kids used to play freely after school/weekends – learned to socialize, problem solve, make friends
4. Under-protection in the virtual world
5. The harms that have resulted from new phone-based childhoods (beginning in 1990) – kids getting smart phones with access to the internet, constant notifications, social media, online video gaming
6. What to do to reverse the damage
7. How to work together to fix the problem
8. Part 2 – the decline of play-based childhoods
9. In-person play is critical to childhood development – without it, children will be socially, cognitively, emotionally impaired – need free play with kids of many ages where there is some physical risk teaches children to look after themselves, handle emotions, take turns, resolve conflicts, socialize. (“Play based childhood”)
10. As language develops in the first 5 years of life, cultural/social learning develops at ages 9 – 15 and this learning window closes at puberty.
11. If they get a smartphone at 10-11, they’re getting socialized into Instagram, tik tok, games instead of through real life friendships and experiences. They learn what’s desired / how to talk, behave, emote by posts that get...