How Smartphones Changed Childhood (And What to do About it)

In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos interviews social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the impact of technology, particularly smartphones and social media, on children's mental health. Haidt argues that the shift from play-based childhoods to phone-based childhoods has led to increased anxiety, depression, and attention fragmentation among young people. He suggests four norms to combat this: delaying smartphones until 14, social media until 16, implementing phone-free schools, and encouraging more independent play. Dr. Santos also speaks with Jill Murphy from Common Sense Media, who offers practical advice for parents on navigating technology with their children, emphasizing open communication, family media agreements, and monitoring children's reactions to different technologies.