In The Anxious Generation,1,2 Jonathan Haidt argues that a dramatic shift in childhood from play-based to phone-based has contributed to rising anxiety, depression, and social disconnection among young people.
Haidt criticises “phone-based parenting,” where children are given devices too early, often to manage boredom or safety concerns, stunting their emotional/social development.
Also, increasingly risk-averse parenting styles have limited opportunities for free play, independence, and resilience-building experiences, resulting in a generation less prepared to navigate challenges.
Haidt calls for: delaying smartphone/social media use, promoting free play, and encouraging community-wide efforts to give childhood back its healthy balance of autonomy, exploration, and face-to-face connection.
As published in NZ Doctor and Research Review
