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From the Pastor’s Desk:

The Anxious Generation

A few months ago, while browsing a bookstore in Columbus, I came across The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. Having previously enjoyed The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, I was drawn to the title, curious about his exploration of the growing epidemic of anxiety in young people.  And I wondered if there is something going on that is causing anxiety to be more prevalent and if so can we do something to help those who suffer.

As I process the wealth of information in this book, I find myself both intrigued and unsettled. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, presents the statistical information that young people are being diagnosed with rising levels of anxiety and depression.  It seems that there is a clear line at 2015 where the numbers are much higher and represent a change in rates of depression and anxiety disorders in young people.   And this was seen at much higher rates in young people than older people within this time span.  

He explores why this is the case.  He investigates the societal, technological and cultural factors that are contributing to this crisis.  His hypothesis is that the introduction of smart phones is directly linked to these rising levels.  He believes that the use of smart phone and the use of social media by younger youth is one of the main causes of this spike in depression and anxiety disorders.  From his research, the use of flip phones (ones not able to connect to the internet, not able to download apps and more difficult to text) didn’t seem to impact the group of youth that had access to this type of phone verses a smart phone.  He argues that early smartphone use rewires young brains in harmful ways.  While Haidt’s argument about smartphones as a root cause of anxiety is compelling, I wonder whether there are other, less obvious cultural factors at play. Is it only technology, or are there broader societal shifts—like economic uncertainty or changing family dynamics—that might also be contributing.  

The addictiveness of social media and our phones in general have led to youth suffering.  In addition to the usage of the smart phone, he also shows the decrease amount of free play and the increase of ‘helicoptering parents’ contribute to the increase in anxiety amid youth.

In an effort to combat this rise in mental illness within youth, he advocates waiting till youth are older for them to use social media.  He suggests at least 16 years of age but older is better.  He also recommends that youth younger than 16 use a ‘flip phone’ rather than a smart phone.  He advocates schools restrict the use of phones during the school day by using a locked bag that the phone is placed in.  He acknowledges the need to balance youth’s ability to get ahold of their parents particularly in cases of emergencies with how distracting phone are to the educational process.  He states that restricting phones may not be the ‘magic bullet’ in this struggle, but he thinks that it would create a more beneficial environment for youth not filled with as many distractions.

He also strongly advocates for greater amount of free play.  He talks about the amount (or lack of amount) of recess at all schools including elementary schools.  He says that when youth are given some freedom to play and given the time to solve the problems that arise on their own without adults jumping in too quickly actually teach youth important lessons that aid them in becoming more resilience and fosters mental well-being.

I encourage people to read this book.  Whether or not you agree with the author (and I am still figuring that out for myself), it raises significant questions about our engagement with phones and social media.  It also raises important questions for raising kids/grandchild in our world today as well as some pressing issues for our school in the world today.