Jonathan Haidt | The Anxious Generation and the Epidemic of Childhood Mental Illness

Video Description

Join social psychologist Jonathan Haidt for an enlightening discussion on his groundbreaking research in The Anxious Generation, where he uncovers the alarming rise in teen mental health issues—including depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide—since the early 2010s. Haidt argues that the shift from a "play-based childhood" to a "phone-based childhood" is at the heart of this crisis, with excessive screen time and social media severely impacting the social and neurological development of adolescents. He delves into the gendered effects, showing how girls are disproportionately affected, while boys increasingly retreat into virtual spaces. Offering a compelling call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers, Haidt advocates for critical changes to protect the mental well-being of today’s youth. A must-watch for viewers of public media outlets, this talk is essential for anyone seeking bi-partisan, research-driven solutions to address the teen mental health epidemic. NOTES This program is supported by the Ken & Jaclyn Broad Family Fund and the Center for Humane Technology. Photo courtesy of speaker. April 1, 2024 Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University’s Stern School of Business; Author, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness; X @JonHaidt In Conversation with Tristan Harris, Co-founder and Executive Director, Center for Humane Technology; X @tristanharris 👉Join our Email List! https://www.commonwealthclub.org/email 🎉 BECOME a MEMBER: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/membership The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum 📣, bringing together its 20,000 members for more than 500 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy. Founded in 1903 in San Francisco California 🌉, The Commonwealth Club has played host to a diverse and distinctive array of speakers, from Teddy Roosevelt in 1911 to Anthony Fauci in 2020. In addition to the videos🎥 shared here, the Club reaches millions of listeners through its podcast🎙 and weekly national radio program📻.