No better way to relax over the Holidays than to read "The Anxious Generation"

Over the holiday season, I had the privilege of visiting Whistler. Unfortunately, skiing was off the table for me due to various circumstances, so I took to wandering the Valley Trail instead.

On one of my walks, I spotted a young guy, maybe 12, sitting on a bench in front of a jaw-dropping view of the mountains and valley in front of him. But was he soaking in this majestic scene?

Nope.

He was glued to his phone, scrolling through loud videos of what I can only assume were other people enjoying life. It was peak 21st-century irony. Ignoring a live masterpiece to watch a digital highlight reel.?Alone.

The Anxious Generation

This observation corresponded with me reading "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt over the holidays. This book examines the significant rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among teenagers, particularly adolescent girls, since the mid-2000s. Haidt attributes this mental health crisis largely to the use of smartphones and social media.

Working in the IT and Tech sector, I am pretty excited about the opportunities that technology offers.

As someone deeply invested in the tech sector, I also can’t ignore the impact that some tech is having on young people. The statistics are alarming: rising rates of anxiety, depression, and even self-harm among teens. One of the central points in the book is that the early and unrestricted use of smartphones and social media is reshaping childhood in ways that undermine mental health.

Adolescents are at a critical stage of development, where real-world interactions and exploration are essential for building resilience and social skills. Instead, many young people are spending formative years engrossed in curated online realities, fake people using image filters touting hyper-consumerism. Comparison, validation-seeking, and FOMO-mongering. We have all seen it ourselves.

Haidt concludes that we should delay cellphone and social media access until at least age 16. By doing so, we can give young people the chance to develop their identities, critical thinking skills, and social connections without the distortion that digital platforms often bring.

But maybe delaying access is just one piece of the puzzle.

How do we introduce tech the right way?

If we’re serious about ensuring the next generation is innovative and forward-thinking, we need to reframe how technology is introduced into the lives of young people.

We should focus on teaching digital literacy early—not just by putting devices in their hands but by helping them understand how technology works, its pros and cons. For example, coding workshop or robotics clubs can spark curiosity and creativity without fostering dependence on addictive social media platforms.

School communities should prioritize activities that promote real-world interaction, teamwork, and creativity. Programs that encourage physical play, arts, and face-to-face collaboration can counterbalance the isolating effects of technology. We need our young people to be more polite, and learn about real-world social etiquette by… you guessed it. Real world social interaction.

Parents have a critical role to play. We are our kid’s trusted guides. We are modeling what we value. Simple steps like keeping phones out of bedrooms, getting your kid a text-and-call-only flip phone, setting screen-free times, or modeling balanced tech use can set the tone.

We can’t let social media companies off the hook. We need to rethink how we design tech for young people. Instead of building platforms that prioritize engagement and addictive behaviors at all costs, tech companies should focus on creating tools that enhance learning, foster creativity, and respect mental well-being. They may need to be regulated into doing so.

So, to summarize Haidt’s book…

-????????? Delay exposure: Postpone children's access to smartphones and social media to reduce early dependency. Haidt suggests age 16.

-????????? Encourage unsupervised play: Promote real-world interactions among children to develop social skills and resilience.

-????????? No cellphones in schools

-????????? Parental guidance: Implement practical measures, such as keeping phones out of children's bedroom.

The goal isn’t to reject technology but to embrace it responsibly.

By delaying access to potentially harmful tech and focusing on fostering creativity, social skills, critical thinking, and mental health, we can raise a generation that not only leads in innovation but also thrives in a balanced, emotionally healthy way.

What do you think?