Jonathan Haidt on The Anxious Generation, Social Media, Smartphones & Helping Kids Reclaim Childhood
From The Cathy Heller Podcast by Cathy Heller
March 23, 2026 · 48 min · Season 10 · Episode 23
About this episode
Jonathan Haidt discusses the impact of smartphones and social media on children's mental health and offers strategies for families to reclaim childhood in the digital age.
What are smartphones and social media really doing to our kids' mental health, and how can we help them reshape their childhood in this digital age? Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and bestselling author of The Anxious Generation is spearheading a movement to empower kids and parents to regain their attention, and reclaim their sense of play and freedom away from the screens. He shares how families can restore real-world connection and fun, what structures and tools can help us all avoid the digital dopamine addiction, and why you should make time to celebrate and honor your own Shabbat.- Watch the full replay of Cathy's Aries Masterclass cathyheller.com/workshop- Get your copies of The Anxious Generation and The Amazing Generation at https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/- Let Grow Movement https://letgrow.org/- Follow Jonathan Haidt on Instagram @jonathanhaidt - Deep Focus by Cal Newport - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
People in this episode
Host: Cathy Heller
Guest: Jonathan Haidt
Topics covered
- mental health
- social media
- childhood
- digital age
- parenting
- attention
- play
Keywords
- smartphones
- social media
- mental health
- children
- digital addiction
- parenting
- attention
- play
- Shabbat
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Let Grow Movement
Books & works: The Anxious Generation
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