By Jonathan Haidt
Published 2024 by Penguin Random House
Synopsis:
The author (and his research team) gather data from around the developed, Western world to make the case for what he calls The Great Rewiring. This began in about 2010 with the introduction of smartphones, giving adolescents and children virtually unrestricted access to social media and the internet. This situation was exacerbated by a decline in outdoor activities and free play during childhood. Haidt argues that these factors, coupled with tech companies that optimising their apps and algorithms to extend user engagement, have contributed to the current mental health crisis. He then proposes various solutions (both small and large-scale) that parents, schools, and governments can implement to tackle the issue.
My opinion:
The book is highly readable, well-crafted and clear. Haidt briefly presents and then refutes a few alternative theories explaining the rise in mental illness, suicide, and loneliness suggested by the data. It is intended for a general audience rather than academics, as the graphs are simplified and thoroughly explained. The tone is knowledgeable and strident, which makes the evidence provided seem convincing. Each chapter concludes with a summary of key points, which is helpful for busy people, like me, who don't read chapters in one go.
I particularly like Haidt's suggestions for rituals and milestones related to introducing personal freedom, smartphones, and social media to children. These align with what I aimed to implement in my classroom while teaching young children. For instance, at age 6, children can start taking on responsibilities within the family, like handling chores and receiving an allowance. At age 8, they can experience local independence by visiting nearby places on their own. By age 10, they can be allowed to roam more widely, have a basic phone and spend time with friends in person without adult supervision. This progression is detailed in the book through to legal adulthood at 18 or 21.
I love the sound of Haidt's Flourishing class at NYU. I wonder how educators and leaders might incorporate a similar program into their schools. Would it be most effective as a separate class, an optional extracurricular activity, or woven into core subject lessons? In Australia, both the national curriculum and state curricula cover mental health and wellbeing as well as cyber safety, which is a promising start.
The book consistently emphasises experiences in American neighbourhoods and schools, which is understandable given the author's background. I believe (and hope) that many of his examples of institutional policies negatively affecting children's mental health and autonomy are not typical of the average Australian childhood. For instance, Haidt discusses the reduction of recess and lunch playtime, the notion that phones in schools serve as a safety measure during an active shooter event, the intense focus on standardised testing and rankings, and instances where parents have faced charges for allowing their tween-aged children freedom in the neighbourhood. While some of these issues are relevant to Australia, they are not as widespread as he suggests they are in the US.
Overall, I would recommend this book to teachers, parents, school leaders and policymakers. It doesn't have all the answers, but it seems like a good place to start.
Other reviews:
The Anxious Generation wants to save teens. But the bestseller’s anti-tech logic is skewed | The Guardian (April 2024)
On Jonathan Haidt's 'The Anxious Generation' | Julian Girdham blog (April 2024)
Navigating The Anxious Generation: Insights from Jonathan Haidt | The Waldorf School of The Peninsula blog (April 2024)
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