The Way the World Works: A Tuttle Twins Podcast fo... - Are Smartphones and Social Media Making Gen Z and Gen Alpha More Anxious?

The Way the World Works: A Tuttle Twins Podcast fo... - Are Smartphones and Social Media Making Gen Z and Gen Alpha More Anxious?

From Think and Act Locally by Think & Act Locally

May 7, 2026 · 12 min

About this episode

This episode explores the impact of smartphones and social media on the mental health of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, discussing both benefits and risks.

While technology can help us learn, connect, and create, constant access to smartphones and social media may also be changing childhood in ways we don't fully understand. Author Jonathan Haidt recently wrote The Anxious Generation , a book arguing that smartphones, social media, and reduced free play are contributing to rising anxiety and mental health struggles among younger generations. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, growing up online can mean constant comparison, cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and fewer opportunities for real-world independence. In this episode of The Way the World Works , we explore whether smartphones and social media are helping or hurting kids — and what families can do about it. We talk about the benefits of technology, including learning new skills and staying connected, while also examining the risks of too much screen time, social media pressure, and online bullying. Most importantly, we discuss why parents — not government — should be the ones making decisions about phones, apps, and internet use in their homes. If social media is making kids more anxious, the solution should start with families, responsibility, and more real-world play. What…

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Books & works: The Anxious Generation

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