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JOIn #theanxiousgeneration I focused on the mental health harms of smartphones and social media on kids and teens (anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidality).
But since writing the book — it was published 2 years ago — I've come to see that an even worse harm of growing up on 5 hours a day on social media (US average for teens) is the loss of the ability to pay attention.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of teens scroll on social media while doing homework, leading to frequent interruptions.
Average attention spans on screen-based tasks have plummeted from roughly 2.5 minutes in the early 2000s to just 40–47 seconds in recent years. This decline is driven by constant digital stimulation, social media, and multitasking, resulting in reduced productivity, higher stress, and increased errors.
This bodes badly for an entire generation entering the workplace and being able to hold down jobs and contribute to their own and society's thriving.
How do we turn this around? The four norms:
1️⃣ no smartphone until 14
2️⃣ no social media before 16
3️⃣ #phonefreeschools
4️⃣ more independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world
We need to make it ok for kids to not be on social media (at all or as much as they are) by adopting these norms together. That way no child can say, "But I'm the only one!" Instead, if 5 kids in a class don't have social media until 16, and then increasingly half the class, then most of the class — that's how we make it easy for them to live in the real world, and not cling to hour-by-hour internet drama.
Comment JOIN to join our movement!
Video from a wonderful event hosted by @rachellehruska, founder of @linguafrancanyc. They've created a line of sweaters with slogans from our movement. 20% of sales will be donated to us. You can see the collection at the link in my bio. Thank you, Rachelle & team!
@jonathanhaidt
