About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of TikTok and social media on childhood development and education.

As students head back to school, families and educators are facing a growing question: What should they do about smartphones? Host Megan McArdle is joined by social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt, to talk about how TikTok, social media and constant digital stimulation may be changing the way children pay attention, stay motivated and cope emotionally. They discuss how childhood shifted from play-based to phone-based, how strong the evidence really is that social media is harming kids and whether phone-free schools, age limits and new family norms can help turn things around. Subscribe to The Washington Post here .

People in this episode

Host: Megan McArdle

Guest: Jonathan Haidt

Topics covered

• TikTok
• childhood development
• social media impact
• education
• digital stimulation

Keywords

• TikTok
• social media
• childhood
• education
• digital stimulation
• attention
• motivation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Washington Post

Books & works: The Anxious Generation

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