How *The Anxious Generation* Exposes Tech’s Toll on Our Children

Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2024).

When I read a book that gets me excited, the first person I run and tell is my wife. Most of the time she gets that twinkle in her eye and thinks to herself, “I married an all-star theologian and pastor.” Or, at least, I imagine that to be her thoughts.

This time, as I was enthusiastically sharing about The Anxious Generation, she looked at me and said, “Oh, I’ve already read that book like two years ago.” I was shocked. She read something before me? “How come you didn’t tell me about it?” I asked. “Did you not get as excited about it as I am right now? I’m planning to change everything about our parenting tactics.” She kind of shrugged her shoulders and just smiled at me. As if to say, “I’m glad you finally realized that you married the all-star!” Of course, she is right.

Why This Book Matters

I submit to you that this book is a must read. Yes, you read that right. You would do well to pick up The Anxious Generation by Jonahtan Haidt right now and consume it for the sake of the next generation (link below). If you are a parent, grand parent, teacher, administrator, or involved in any way, shape, or form with college students down to elementary aged children, you should stop whatever you are doing and read this book. The contents, graphs, and data will open your eyes to how smartphones, the internet, and social media have contributed to the plethora of mental health issues plaguing the next generation.

The Central Problem: Smartphones, Social Media, The Internet, and Mental Health

What has me scratching my head is that Haidt admits he’s not a Christian. He aligns more with atheism–a religion unto itself. Nevertheless, his research led him to the discovery that “helicopter parenting,” and zero safeguards in the online realm have led to the anxiety, depression, and an inability to be functioning adults in this generation and the subsequent generations coming behind them. Guess what one of his solutions is–religion. I’m puzzled as to why a social psychologist is fighting for the souls of our children against big tech more so than the church. We would do well to love our children and be a part of the solutions that are crippling their mental health.

Practical Solutions for Parents and Educators

The author is not just a whistleblower. Smartphones, social media, and the internet are some of the primary causes as to why these generations are struggling with mental health issues and social dysfunction. Haidt, however, provides tangible solutions for both the home and our schools. We would do well to lead in a culture shift when it comes to free play, delayed phone, tablet, screen, and social media use, and more embodied interactions between children and young adults during some of their most informative years.

Effects on Young Men and Women

This crisis impacts both young men and women–albeit differently. Young girls are dealing with more internal struggles like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, while young men are withdrawing from society and real relationships for the online world. While we have let the proverbial genie out of the bottle, we are not powerless as parents, educators, nor those who have influence over the next generation. We are able to work together and prevent these technologies from rewiring their brains.

Haidt’s research affirms removing screen technology, social media, and smartphones can bring a person out of their mental and social anxieties with increased play and real-world interactions. He would not admit to this so I will as a pastor and theologian. God created human beings with the ability to recover and pursue his design for our lives. Through the gospel we are able to overcome sin and be renewed into a new life with Christ (Rom. 6:4). The Holy Spirit grants us the ability to avoid giving into temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). In other words, the generation growing up in this “great rewiring” are not doomed. When we lovingly step in, we can help them return to normalcy by sometimes removing these technologies for consistent periods of time–especially during those formative years like childhood and puberty. In addition, we can disciple them to use these mediums in a biblically wise way should they chose to use them in their adult years.

Evidence, Research, and a Call to Action

This book provides statistical evidence for the warnings I have shared about the dangers of social media and technology–especially for young people. We would do well to disseminate this information because the health and well-being of future generations depends on how we respond to studies and research found in books like The Anxious Generation.

I highly recommend you read this one for yourself. Perhaps we can partner together to remedy the mental health crisis and social anxiety of the tech industry.

Final Recommendation

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