Your Screen Is Changing Your Brain. Take Back Control, with Jonathan Haidt

About this episode

Jessi Hempel discusses with Jonathan Haidt the impact of smartphones and social media on attention and mental health.

If you feel like your attention span has shrunk, you’re not imagining it. According to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, our phones and social platforms have fundamentally reshaped childhood, work, and our ability to focus. In his bestselling book The Anxious Generation, Jon argues that the rise of smartphones and social media triggered what he calls the “great rewiring of childhood.” But the consequences extend far beyond kids. In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi talks with Jon about what constant connectivity is doing to our minds,how we got here, and why reclaiming our attention may be one of the most important challenges of our time. Jon and Jess discuss: How smartphones reshaped adolescent development Why social media use is linked strongly to rising anxiety and depression among young people How tech platforms are intentionally designed to capture and fragment our attention Why today’s digital tools isolate people Practical steps families, workplaces, and individuals can take to reclaim focus and develop healthier tech habits Why restoring unstructured play, independence, and boredom is critical for healthy development At its core, this conversation asks a simple…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jessi Hempel, Jessi

Guest: Jonathan Haidt

Topics covered

• attention span
• smartphones
• social media
• anxiety
• depression
• child development
• tech habits

Keywords

• The Anxious Generation
• The Amazing Generation
• screen time
• digital tools
• unstructured play

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World

Books & works: The Anxious Generation, Hello Monday, The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World

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