Bonus Episode: Kids, Tech, and Mental Health with Dr. Jonathan Haidt
Podcast: Thriving KidsPublished On: Mon Sep 01 2025
Description: In this special episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with NYU social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt for a live conversation on how smartphones and social media are transforming childhood — and what parents, schools, and policymakers can do in response.Recorded at Guild Hall in East Hampton, they discuss the questions raised in Dr. Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation — including the points they see differently.They talk candidly about screen time, youth anxiety, social media “addiction,” digital literacy, tech regulation, and why we’re seeing such sharp mental health shifts in teens and tweens. Whether you’re alarmed by what you see on your kid’s phone or just looking for practical next steps, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and room for multiple perspectives.Topics include:The “post-play childhood” and decline in free timeWhen (and if) kids should be using social mediaWhy phones in schools are so hard to manageWhere tech harms hit boys and girls differentlyWhat parents can do now — even if the genie’s already out of the bottleFurther readingThe Anxious Generation – Jonathan HaidtScreen Time and Technology Resources – Child Mind InstituteSpecial thanks to Guild Hall and the Hamptons Institute for hosting this event and to journalist and filmmaker Perri Peltz for moderating with insight and care.
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