Jonathan Haidt: How screens stole childhood — and how to get it back

How screens stole childhood — and how to get it back

Humans aren't just social — we're ultrasocial, wired like bees and ants for deep connection. So what happens when smartphones take over childhood, tablets replace textbooks and AI companies infiltrate our kids’ lives? Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out three principles of technoskepticism — and explains why, two years after sounding the alarm in "The Anxious Generation," he's more concerned (and hopeful) than ever before.

Human connection is essential for healthy childhood development, but digital technology is pushing children away from real-world experiences into isolation. When teens shifted to smartphones and social media, they lost face-to-face bonding, triggering a worldwide spike in loneliness and anxiety. Countries like Sweden are reversing course on classroom devices after seeing test scores drop. The call is clear: protect young minds by prioritizing people, books, and authentic relationships over screens and artificial intelligence.

Raising Kids in an Ultrasocial World Demands Techno-Skepticism

Human connection is essential, yet smartphones, tablets, and AI are taking over the spaces where young people used to build real-world bonds. After social media replaced in-person time, teen loneliness and anxiety surged, with a third of American teens now online almost constantly. Countries like Sweden are reversing course, pulling back digital devices in schools after seeing test scores drop. The movement to reclaim childhood is gaining momentum, with families and governments pushing for age limits, tech-free schools, and more real-world freedom.