Is everything going to hell in a handcart because of smartphones and social media? In this episode, I sit down with NYU professor and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt to tackle this burning question.
Dr. Haidt makes a compelling case that our addiction to these devices is wreaking havoc on society, from mental health crises to political turmoil. But is it really all the smartphone’s fault? I'm not so sure it's quite that simple, so I wanted to dive deeper into the nuances.
We get into the nitty-gritty and I challenge some of Haidt’s claims, exploring questions like, why do these issues seem to hit the English-speaking world the hardest? Is this another moral panic, or is this time really different? We also discuss the differences in how smartphones affect various demographics and cultures, and why understanding these distinctions is crucial. Plus, we explore Jonathan’s practical and highly sensible recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a die-hard believer, this episode will make you rethink your relationship with the technology in our pockets.
Let's do this.
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0:00 Introduction 5:14 The Anxious Generation 8:05 Is this just another moral panic? 11:48 TV affects on the 70s 16:51 The Pie Chart of Societal Misery 21:23 Why is play so important? 23:53 Educational vs psychological development 26:57 Social media and gender 29:14 Is social media worse for liberals or conservatives? 31:40 Moral Foundation Theory of Social Media 41:48 What about differences across countries? 49:54 Are we measuring mental health correctly? 53:44 Is socal media more like alcohol or smoking? 1:04:45 What's the worst social media platform for mental health? 1:07:42 The "For You" algorithm 1:11:54 Dr. Haidt's 4 Prescriptions 1:26:18 How likely are we to see real policy changes?
