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Be sure to add your name to the post so you can receive credit for it! Please post one or two take-aways you had from this section.

What are your thoughts based on the information presented in these chapters?

Write a brief summary of your takeaways for each of these chapters.

Part 3: Community and Identity

1. Haidt discusses the importance of community in fostering resilience. What are some ways he suggests communities can support young people?

2. How does identity formation play a role in the anxiety experienced by younger generations? What points does Haidt make about this?

3. Discuss the balance between individual identity and community belonging. How does Haidt suggest this balance can be achieved?

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Please be sure to complete your Intro slide before our first meeting.

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Jan/Feb 2025 -Get to Know Me!- Stolen Focus Book Study 

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Each meeting will be from 2:30 - 3:30 on Monday's

January 6

January 21

February 4

February 13

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Be sure to add your name to the post so you can receive credit for it! Please post one or two take-aways you had from this section.

You can think about the following questions when you post as well:

Part 1: Understanding Anxiety in the Modern World

1. What are the main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger generations?

2. How does Haidt connect societal changes with the increase in anxiety? Can you provide specific examples from the text?

3. Discuss the role of social media in shaping the experiences of today’s youth. What evidence does Haidt present to support his claims?

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Be sure to add your name to the post so you can receive credit for it! Please post one or two take-aways you had from this section.

You can think about the following questions when you post as well...

Part 2: The Impact of Parenting and Education

1. How does Haidt describe the evolution of parenting styles over recent decades? What impact does he believe this has had on children's mental health?

2. In what ways does the educational system contribute to or alleviate anxiety among students, according to Haidt?

3. What solutions does Haidt propose for parents and educators to address the rising anxiety levels?

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Reading schedule. **Reading should be completed prior to meeting**

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Reading schedule. **Reading should be completed prior to meeting**

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Jan 6th

Introduction -Part 1- A Tidal Wave

Jan 21th

Part 2- The Backstory

Feb 4th

Part 3 - The Great Rewiring

Feb 13th

Part 4 - Collective Action for Healthier Childhood

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1. The main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger generations are the increasing access to technology during vulnerable developmental stages and the shift toward overprotecting children & restricting their autonomy in the real world.

2. Since the 1980s, free time has declined at a rapid pace. Time for children to exist in the world unsupervised has rapidly decreased, and the anxiety of bad things happening to unsupervised children (such as kidnapping) has grown. Haidt describes the shift from "play based childhood" to "phone based childhood" which became a complete transition by the mid 2010s.

3. Children and adolescents have instant gratification with social media, being able to take selfies and post them and immediately get reactions and comments from friends and strangers alike. This directly impacts self-esteem, self-image, confidence, bullying, and a steady decline in mental health (with growing numbers of children and adolescents experiencing depression, anxiety, etc.). He provided evidence including when teens received iPhones, the depression rate went up.

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Haidt identifies several factors that contribute to rising anxiety rates among young adults. Perhaps the biggest is that almost half of teens, 46% in 2022, report to be online "almost constantly". This means that they are distracted most of the time. Haidt writes, "even when members of Gen Z are not on their devices and appear to be doing something in the real world...a substantial part of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse" (34). This constant presence in the virtual world impacts social patterns, emotional health, physical health, attention, and negatively impacts sleep cycles which leads to an even steeper decline in mental health.

Since the virtual world is relatively new to all of us, young people are underprotected online, meaning adults are often unaware of the negative impacts of social media and other online platforms on their children and teens. This issue is exacerbated by overprotection in the real world. Parents are reluctant to let children take risks and play freely without adult supervision due to fear that something bad will happen.

According to Haidt's research, depression rates among teenage girls has increased by 145% since 2010 and in teenage boys has increased by 161% (24). He claims that this mental health crisis can be attributed to the transition from a "play based childhood" to a "phone based childhood".

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1. The main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger generations is what he refers to as “the Great Rewiring of Childhood” which occurred from 2010 to 2015 when the social lives of American teens moved largely onto smartphones. Haidt specifically focuses on smart phones, or when access to the internet could be all the time, anywhere. The change to phone-based childhood from play based childhood is what Haidt primarily identifies as the main contributor to the rise of anxiety in Gen Z. He also focused on a shift toward overprotecting children and restricting their autonomy in the real world (while continuing to underprotect in the online world).

2. Haidt connects societal changes with the increase in anxiety in a number of different ways, he specifically uses an example of the decline of free play beginning in the 1980s, and even more so accelerated in the 1990s. Stranger danger became a major societal fear, which lead to a personal computer becoming a place where children spent their free time. Overprotection in the real world caused a decline in kids abilites to free play.

3. Haidt discusses the introduction of the front-facing camera and the different filters that Instagram began to introduce in society between 2010-2012. “Whether she used filters or not, the reflection each girl saw in the mirror got less and less attractive to the girls she saw on her phone” pg. 35. This example I found powerful, it is so relevant to our world today. Social media ultimately reduced the ability for people to be fully and completely present.

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Hi Jennifer!

The part you mentioned about overprotecting our kiddos in a play-based childhood vs phone- based (where they are under-protected) stood our to me the most during this reading. It is so true and I immediately asked myself...why did I allow my 13 year old to have social media?? Well I know why, I didn't want her to feel left out.

We do everything we can to protect our kids in the "real world" or play-based experiences so they don't get hurt or we look for ways to make life easier or help them (even when they should be figuring it out on their own lol) but when they are on their phones, there are less boundaries. You think because they are home and you know where they are they are safe but so not the case. They are learning to hit the block button, sign off, done button whatever you want to call it when they are faced with challenges. They can do this with little repercussion. That is not the way life works. They are missing out on solving problems and interacting with others in a setting in "real time".

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1. Haidt identifies several main factors contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger people; "helicopter parenting", social media and screen time, the decline in unstructured play and changing academic pressures. He argues that the increasing tendency of parents to shield children from risks has limited their ability to develop resilience. Our culture prioritizes emotional and physical safety above all else, leaving young people less prepared for real-world challenges. The widespread use of social media has changed how young people interact, leading to increased feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and cyberbullying. He emphasizes that unstructured play helps children develop social and emotional skills, and its absence may contribute to heightened anxiety. The increasing competitiveness in academics creates significant stress for young people, who often feel they must excel in all areas to succeed.

2. Haidt connects broader societal changes with rising anxiety through specific examples such as

social media's impact on development: highlighting the introduction of social media as a pivotal moment. He points out that rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm began to spike after this. He describes how universities began adopting policies that reinforce fragility, such as trigger warnings and safe spaces, which inadvertently may reduce students' resilience. He discusses how younger generations are coming of age in a world marked by economic challenges, such as student debt and housing affordability, which compounds their stress and anxiety. He references how societal fears of danger, like stranger abduction, led to laws and cultural norms that discourage independence in children, restricting their freedom to explore and build confidence.

3. In regards to the role of social media with today's youth: a comparison culture, cyberbullying, sleep disruption and gender disparities should all be considered concerning. Young people see idealized versions of their peers', leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Pointing to studies showing that online harassment is more pervasive and damaging than in-person bullying. He highlights evidence linking increased screen time with poor sleep quality, which in turn exacerbates anxiety and depression.

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Love this and it makes sense "Stress wood is a perfect metaphor for children, who also need to experience frequent stressors in life in order to become strong adults". Parents have to let their kids explore in the play-based world so they can develop problem solving skills, conflict resolution, etc. (Discover Mode Mindset).

Controlling kids environment in the play based world could hinder their growth in being independent decision makers (Defend Mode Mindset).

American parenting changed in the 1990s, first among college educated parents. Even though sex crimes and abductions had been on the rise since the 80's, it wasn't uncommon for elementary and middle school kids were left on their own to play in their neighborhoods on nights and weekends with different age kids.

Frank Furedi, a British sociologist, analyzed changing parental behaviors as a response to social, economic and technological changes in the 80's and 90's. For example, cable tv and the rise of women entering the workplace.

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1. Haidt repeatedly highlights the transition from a "play-based childhood" to a "phone-based childhood" as the primary cause for "The Great Rewiring". One of the primary reasons children are on screens much more often is the overprotection of children in the real world, which has led to parents giving their children less autonomy, in a trend he refers to as "fearful parenting". Haidt asserts that "children require exposure to setbacks, failures, shocks, and stumbles in order to develop strength and self reliance. Overprotection interferes with this development and renders young people more likely to be fragile and fearful as adults." Additionally, Haidt mentions that parents are often distracted by their phones when interacting with their children. This distraction is "interfering with the bond between parent and child" which can further lead to mental health problems.

2. Fearful parenting and overprotection has also trickled into the education system. On page 90, there is a picture of "Tag Rules", which are posted on an elementary school playground in Berkeley, California. It includes rules like "include everyone" and "resolve disagreements with Rock-Paper-Scissors" and leaves little room for children to practice their own conflict resolution skills. Children are generally not allowed to take many risks during recess, which seems safe but may be impacting their mental health negatively in the long run. Haidt writes that "safetyism is dangerous because it makes it harder for children to learn to care for themselves and to deal with risk, conflict, and frustration."

3. I think the biggest solution we can offer is to let children take risks and explore the world on their own (within reason, of course). Haidt writes that kids want to take the risks they are ready for. Examples include, letting kids help prepare dinner or letting them walk to a neighborhood friend's house by themselves.

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1. Haidt believes there has been a shift in parenting trend with respect to protection and care during the last two decades. As adults, children today are profoundly more anxious and depressed than they used to be. He explains that over-restriction of activities and an increase in usage of phones and social media have negatively impacted their mental health He further explains that this paradigm shift in parenting has changed the traditional childhood experience which was more focused on playing freely. Haidt maintains that parents' protection and scrutiny of children and the use of social media may simultaneously lead to heightened levels of anxiety among children.

Excessive use of social media puts children under constant comparison which affects their self-worth, as it often leads them to feel lonely and depressed. the parental overprotection denies children the opportunity to cope with challenges.

2. The emotional and psychological wellbeing of students is becoming an increasing area of focus within schools. This has the potential risk of making students ignore challenges. According to Haidt, this does not support personal growth, instead it encourages a victim mentality.

3. Modeling healthy behavior, reducing screen time, encouraging independence and free play, strong social connections, and encouraging a growth mindset. His solutions are focused on creating environments that enhance young people’s chances of dealing with life’s challenges with emotional strength.

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1. What are the main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger generations?

Tha main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety and depression among the younger generations is unlimited access to technology.  When I say unlimited access to technology, I mean that the younger generation is playing online games, participating in social media and utilizing technology in ways previous generations could not.  With the increased access to technology, teens are experiencing social isolation.  The teens are displaying behaviors of engagement with the virtual world, but that engagement is actually detrimental to their growth.

2. How does Haidt connect societal changes with the increase in anxiety? Can you provide specific examples from the text?

Haidt has researched the big societal changes that impact human mental health.  When looking at the financial crisis, 9/11, wars, there has not been the surge of mental health issues as we have seen since 2010.  Yes, societal events impact teen mental health but not to the extent as we have seen since 2010.  The common denominator from 2010 is the increase in technology access and what Haidt calls the “great rewiring”.

3. Discuss the role of social media in shaping the experiences of today’s youth. What evidence does Haidt present to support his claims?

Social media has shaped the experiences of today’s youth in many, negative ways.  Teens now have access to a virtual world which sharply increases dopamine levels, creates algorithms to keep them immersed in their virtual world, and further isolates teens from the outside world.  With the increase of screen time, teens have begun to lack in the basic, human need of social interaction to best develop their social-emotional skills.  On page 34, Haidt sums up that one in every 4 teens is online constantly, he further states when the teens are not online or on their devices, “...they appear to be doing something in the real world…a substantial portion of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse.”

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1. How does Haidt describe the evolution of parenting styles over recent decades? What impact does he believe this has had on children's mental health?

Haidt describes the evolution of parenting styles over the recent decades as going from play-based childhood to fear-based.  As we have moved from the 80’s onward, parents have become more fearful of what their children are doing.  As a result, we put less trust in being sure that other adults are, “looking out” for our children and instead put more limitations on what our kids can do.  Haidt notes that this is very much an American/UK phenomenon.  As a result of our strict culture and lack of free/risky play, our teens have gone from “discover mode” to “defend mode” and what has that done?  It has created anxious children.

2. In what ways does the educational system contribute to or alleviate anxiety among students, according to Haidt?

The educational system contributes to anxiety among students.  For instance, the graphic on page 90, 3.10 lists rules for students to adhere to on the playground.  Schools micromanage students’ play and therefore, has eliminated free play, blocking student development.  Interestingly, Haidt’s chapter “Puberty and the Blocked Transitions” sums up what a disservice schools do for students.  We offer the students experience blockers by giving them smartphones and screen-based experiences in the classroom.  We have gone from using technology as extension of experience to making it become the “experience”.

3. What solutions does Haidt propose for parents and educators to address the rising anxiety levels?

One of the solutions that Haidt proposes for parents and educators to address the rising anxiety levels is summarized beginning on page 97.  “Experience Blockers: Safetyism and the Smartphone” discusses exposing children to short-term stressors to foster their antifragile development.  We have eliminated much of the stressors and perceived “rough spots” in youth development and children have turned to technology-based experiences like, YouTube, ChatGPT, etc.  Haidt states that we need to give students/youth the proper hurdles to overcome such as, stressors, challenges, freedoms, “Rites of Passages”, and more so that our youth can build resiliency and strong, emotional health.

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The overprotection of children in the real world, which primarily came out of the ‘stranger danger’ time, Haidt refers to as fearful parenting. Both this overprotection and over use of phones and social media by parents (which leads to kids not interacting as often with their parents) have negatively impacted children’s mental health. The fear based upbrining that is described prevents kids from developing their own resilience or learning how to make mistakes in the world.

Haidt believes that there is an underlying issue of ‘victim mentality’ that is caused by there being an over focus on emotional well being in schools. Too many rules and restrictions, similar to overprotection with parenting, can lead kids to struggle taking risks or coping independently.

Solutions proposed include: reducing screen time both kids and adults, offering kids the opportunities to ‘mess up’ or build resilience. He is very focused on kids developing emotional resilience and intelligence (though not directly stated).

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1. Haidt describes parenting styles evolving from a style in which children could engage in unstructured free play and take risks to a style that is highly structured, less risky. Parents seem to be focused on the wrong threats, he says. Children's whole understanding of self and identity are now being curated by what they see on social media. Anxiety and depression have skyrocketed as a result.

2. Schools contribute to the anxiety of students. Schools and parents have worked hard to remove any and all activities that involve any sort of risk-taking (physical and emotional), such as instilling strict playground/play rules.

3. Allow for risks to occur so children can grow and lean into the "Discover Mode". Allow for some stressors to occur so that they can learn to overcome hurdles. I particularly like Haidt's suggestions for even-year birthday celebrations linked to new responsibilities, new freedoms and allowances.

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1. a. No smartphones before high school. Haidt recommends flip phones, "dumb phones" and watches are better if needed.

b. No social media before 16

c. Phone-free schools

d. More independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world.

2. Younger people continuously compare and assess or evaluate themselves against their peers or even other people and their online images. It can result in increased anxiety, as well as a feeling of inadequacy with a negative impact on their self-image - instead they should be building a core self from experiences. Self-esteem, the fear of missing out, comparison, trying to be perfect and lack of real world interactions all have a role in the anxiety experienced by younger generations.

3. Screen time should be balanced with conventional offline pursuits - more physical play and in-person activities with friends. Kids should be given a chance to develop their individuality while connecting with members of society. Limiting screen time, promoting unstructured play, encouraging face to face interactions, and parents that model that behavior would help with achieving the balance.

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1. In helping build identify for our kids, Haidt suggests that engaging in commonly held norm-based rituals and sharing milestones might be more effective than each family having their own practices. For example, age 6 children are contributing to household chores, age 8 play and hangout in groups without adult supervision, it goes on every two years from there until 21 when they are reached legal adulthood.

2. Social media harms girls more than boys. Girls are more sensitive to visual comparison and are likely to develop "socially prescribed perfectionism" (when a person tries to live up to impossibly high standards by others or society). Girls and women share emotions. The book talks about girls with anxiety might have influenced other girls to develop anxiety and depressions. Boys use social media as a tool to stand out (agency motivation) and girls want to feel a sense of belonging (communion motivation).

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1. Communities can support young people by limiting screen time, especially while they are young. There is a lot of pressure on parents to allow their child to have a phone and be on social media platforms because other kids are on them, and no one wants their child to feel left out. In other words, parents tend to do what other parents are doing. If parents come together to decide on an age when they feel it is appropriate for children to have smart phones, it would limit the issue of children feeling isolated if they aren't on the screen. Communities can also support one another by promoting safe play in the real world.

2. Puberty can be a difficult time in general, but it seems that social media and online platforms have been causing a spike in mental health issues in pre-teens and teens. Haidt writes that "social media appeals to the desire for communion, but often ends up frustrating it" (171). On apps like instagram and facebook, visual comparison is inevitable. During a time of life when insecurity and self doubt is prevalent, visual comparison can be a huge detriment to a young person's self esteem. Since platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have so many filters that alter a person's appearance to fit societal beauty standards, this can further spike a teen's feelings of insecurity. Furthermore, puberty is a time in which social connection with peers is key, but "spending hours 'connecting' with others online produces an increase in the quantity of social interactions and a decrease in the quality" (197).

3. Communities can support a sense of community belonging and promote individual identity pursuits by establishing a balance between outdoor free play and screen time. Children and teens need to connect with one another in order to develop in a healthy way. If parents agree to prioritize real-world play, children can connect with one other free of screens for more authentic socialization and healthier social development. Schools can also strike this balance by being responsive to the needs of their students and promoting engagement in the classroom.

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1. Haidt labels the issue of smartphones as “Collective Action Problems” because it is.  As a mom of an 8 year old and a 5 year old (both girls), this book really resonates with me.  A few ways we can foster resilience is by banding together to educate children and families.  I really love the idea of signing a pledge in elementary school to pledge not getting a phone until 8th grade.  The collective coordination is huge.  Haidt also really educates the reader about the impacts of social media and I feel that we should be educating parents about this whenever we can.  “Knowledge is power” and just sharing information and solutions with families will result in more of an awareness of smartphones.  Hopefully this will foster resilience and the not feeling pressured to give your child a smartphone.

2. Throughout part 3 of “The Anxious Generation”, Haidt references the negativity of identity formation linked to social media and the impact on our younger generations.  Kids are using social media (Instagram, YouTube, etc) to gauge what is expected of them.  How they are to look and act.  What they should expect in life, by watching stunts and pornography, or by watching influencers pose for pictures, demonstrating how teens should look.  Chapter 6 begins with the story of an 11 year old and how she found her way to Instagram and then eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.  Haidt goes on to outline how, especially girls, use social media to measure their worth.  He lays out the fake imagery girls are comparing their looks to with the real image.  How more boys are accessing pornography and watching sexually explicit content.  He goes on to discuss how cyberbullying, shared emotions and disorders are accessed and shared on social media.  Granting access to young children and teens sets the kids up for a false sense of what their self should be.  Kids are then scrambling to mimic these false senses and they are failing at reaching these unattainable marks.  This is resulting in a decline in mental health.

3. Individual identity and community belonging is an issue exacerbated by social media.  For teens and preteens to figure out who they are while belonging to a virtual community is a very tough road to navigate.  Standards and expectations are skewed by social media and childrens’ screen time.  Haidt suggests balancing this through less screen time and through more play.  To sum up his suggestions, he feels that people need to be more mindful and be present among their friends, family, and peers.  Screen time needs to be deliberate and not mindless.  Kids need to explore the “real world” and live their life.  They do not need to isolate themselves with their devices to live in a virtual world.

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1. The main factors that Haidt identifies as contributing to the rise of anxiety among younger generations are social media and digital connections-causing a case of FOMO amongst teens, academic and career pressure- causing a feeling of inadequacy, uncertainty about their futures- due to climate change, the changes in parenting styles- not getting to face challenges independently- helicopter parenting, and social disconnections- being so connected to others but also not really connected to anyone.

2. Haidt connects societal changes with an increase in anxiety because there is a new shift towards 'safetyism' where there is an emphasis on safety. Children are not encouraged to take risks to build resilience through challenges now. Helicopter parenting has limited younger generations, ability to find resilience causing higher anxiety when faced with difficult situations.

3. The role of social media in shaping experiences with today's youth because of the constant comparison socially, having FOMO, seeking validation and approval, cyberbullying and harassment, disruption in sleep, addition and escapism, as well as an increased pressure to perform highly.

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1. Normalizing play-based childhood and not having a phone at a young age, not before age 16 preferably. There is an immense amount of pressure on parents to buy phones for their kids to blend in with their peers and fit in, and this emphasis from community (especially from the tech world) can be changed.

2. As youth are forming their identities, the impact that phones, screens, and social media can have on their mental health (particularly, the presentation of anxiety) is immense. During that sensitive period in an adolescent's life, if they are concerned about what's going on with their friends online, FOMO (what they are missing out) and fitting in with the newest technology, and being on social media, etc... it correlates with higher anxiety rates.

3. According to Haidt, there are ways to help balance the development of individual identity and community belonging. As children and youth are developing their identities, it's crucial that they do not lose their sense of belonging - which can happen when their identity is heavily leaning on the internet community and social media. Haidt stresses the importance of increasing the opportunities for phone-free, play-full experiences. He says that he does not want parents to think that they have to structure their time with their kids as overly educational and not allow any down-time etc., but to be more mindful of their behavior around their kids especially the time the spend on their own phones. Also, to utilize more meaningful screen time opportunities when giving kids time on their devices.

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1. The biggest key takeaway I have from this section of the book is nothing can change unless there is a collective effort to change it. Since "each parent decides that it is best to do what every other parent is doing", parents should communicate with other parents about what is going on with their children, and come up with solutions together, so no child feels that they are being ostracized from their peers. An example of this is the Wait Until 8th group, where "parents sign a pledge when their child is in elementary school that they will not give their child a smartphone until 8th grade"

2. One big insight that can be applied in schools is the importance of play for child development. Kids are in school for many hours, and there is no denying that academic work is important. However, Haidt points out that play is just as important for promoting autonomy, problem solving, and self-regulation skills. That being said, there should be parts of the school day in addition to recess that provide opportunities for free play

3. The most significant change that needs to be made is the transition from a phone-based childhood back to a play-based childhood, especially in younger children.

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1. It takes a village! Everyone has to be on board with making changes to how students utilize the internet esp. social media. As a collective unit (schools, students, parents, doctors, gov't, etc.) need to be educated on the impact that social media is having on our youth. If we are all in it together and the messaging and actions taken are the same from all stakeholders, perhaps this would alleviate anxiety among our kids. The book mentioned how one school went phone free and the significant changes they saw. I'm curious to see how the data shifts in test scores and anxiety among students in NY if schools go phone free.

2. I absolutely love the idea of Let Grow and how it facilitates more play based activities that younger children can be engaged in that will enhance their social skills. It can benefit schools greatly to give students more "free" time during the school day so they are gaining more face to face time with their peers. Offering extracurricular activities and clubs in the school or community in which students live would be another great way to offer play based experiences and keep them off their devices. Perhaps schools offering parent nights with topics like this could bring awareness to parents and students. Doctors can be discussing this with kids at exams/physicals too.

3. A couple of things come to mind:

1. Less focus on protecting our kids from everything that could go wrong outside of our home (AKA helicopter parents) and more protection over their internet use.

2. Play-based is crucial to the healthy development of our youth, they learn many valuable life skills that will help them as they transition into young adults.

3. Tech companies are like Big Tobacco!

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Be sure to add your name to the post so you can receive credit for it! Please post one or two take-aways you had from this section.

What are your thoughts based on the information presented in these chapters?

1. Part 4: Moving Forward

1. What are the key takeaways from Haidt's suggestions for mitigating anxiety in future generations?

2. How can the insights from this book be applied in real-life contexts, such as schools or community programs?

3. Reflecting on the book as a whole, what do you think is the most significant change needed in society to support the mental health of younger generations?

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1. Smartphones are contributing to a concerning increase in mental health problems among children and teenagers. Childhoods filled with play, rather than screen time, support healthy growth and development. Issues like sleep deprivation and fragmented attention are serious consequences of smartphone use that can harm children's well-being. However, the adverse effects of smartphones and social media can be mitigated.

2. Establish phone-free zones! Prohibit phone use during class and recess. Increase recess duration: Allow for more time dedicated to play and social-emotional learning. Foster a supportive community: Promote group work and inquiry-based projects. Empower students: Encourage them to take risks and learn from their mistakes. Strike a balance between safety and freedom: Offer opportunities for independent play.

3. It's important to address the effects of social media and technology on mental well-being - promote healthy coping strategies, and ensure that mental health services are easily accessible to all young people.A crucial shift required in society to enhance the mental health of younger generations is to normalize and encourage open discussions about mental health. This involves reducing the stigma associated with seeking help and incorporating mental health education and support systems into schools and workplaces from an early age.

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1. The rules that Haidt outlines I really appreciate, I feel like they’re very cut and try and they really send a message to our kids that the community takes a serious stance on this topic. No smartphone before high school, no social media before 16, phone free schools (one that I think society will most struggle with) and more independence, free play and responsibilities in the real world.

2. Haidt talks about how younger generations use social media as a way to feel a sense of belonging, and to connect with one another, given the fragile nature of this developmental stage, and the need to feel accepted, the social outlets also can lead to feelings of self-comparison, not feeling good enough, and even isolation and loneliness. More so for girls, given the body image comparisons. The ‘connections’ online do not compare to the in person connections that adolescents can make with one another in person through free play.

3. The internet puts youth at risk for struggling with their sense of belonging - opportunities for youth to  build connections in person (phone free) are important in order to help youth find their balance between identifying their identity and still feeling apart of a community.

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1. My biggest take away is that people have to be willing to make changes, even if the larger group of collective parents aren’t making those changes yet. Although, yes, the group as a whole needs to collectively change our policies and commit to helping educate parents, changes like this start small. Haidt’s suggestions are do-able, but parents need to start in their own homes and through conversations with other parents.

2. Schools can implement education for parents into parents nights and through their own social media platforms. We also have the ability to set policies, develop groups of teachers to work together to plan for how to best address the issue.

3. I think the most significant change needed to society would be helping parents and educators learn how to offer opportunities for screen-free play options and connections with kids. Outside of sports, I think many parents struggle to know how to connect with their kids without a screen, or how to offer them downtime. Schools struggle with implementing a no-phone policy due to fear of community back-lash.

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Haidt describes parenting styles as being more helicopter parenting. With phones in student's hands parents watch where their kids are and contact them at all times, when back in the day this was not the case. This is causing children to loosen critical thinking skills because they no longer just play outside and are no longer left to figure things out on their own. This causes children to be more stressed an anxious when they are left to their own devices.

The education system contributes to student's anxiety with holding high standards and expectations of students. Many feel the need for perfectionism causing more stress and anxiety. School systems have started to notice this increase in stress and have been incorporating more SEL activities to try to combat this feeling.

Haidt proposes for parents to allow students to do more chores, have more autonomy, cutting back on social media and phone usage. Allowing students to have tough coaches in spots, and allow technology to be used as a tool for learning.

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Haidt recommends no phones in schools, screen free times, more independent play, and allowing children to do more outdoor play. He also suggests rituals and household chores. He says children should be able to hang out in groups without adult socialization.

Identity formation plays a role in anxiety experience by younger generations because with the rise in hormones children already feel a rise in anxiety. The use of screens and social media cause students to feel as though they should be perfect as what they're seeing online is filtered but their brains are not computing that while they're looking at their screens causing a false sense of self for teens. Haidt discusses cyber bulling and oversharing on social media and how that plays a role.

Being a part of community while having to form their identity exacerbates the feelings of anxiety for teens. Being part of the virtual community while trying to figure out who they are is detrimental to children. Social media puts things out there that causes kids to isolate themselves. He says we are the most disconnected connected society, we have so many online connections but hardly any face to face. Societies need to get out into the real world more then the virtual world.

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Haidt’s vision for moving forward involves cultivating resilience, encouraging critical thinking, and fostering a society that supports emotional growth and mental well-being in healthier, more balanced ways. He suggests we back off and reduce over protective parenting. He encourages us to fostering resilience, shifting cultural attitudes about vulnerability and failure, encouraging critical thinking and open discussion, strengthening social bonds, and promoting personal agency. This will help kids learn to manage the pressures of modern life, avoid becoming overwhelmed by anxiety, and build emotional strength for the future.

Schools could do parent nights that teach children about technology. Schools should continue to teach children about digital footprints and how they effect others as well as themselves with what they put online. Schools should also continue to incorporate SEL days and curriculums. Schools should continue to implement no phone policies so students are encouraged to have more in person interactions. Classrooms could be collaboratives so that students could learn more social skills and they could be more critically thinking so students can get uncomfortable with not knowing the answers right away.

I believe that it should be known that children should not have social media until they are a certain age. There needs to be some type of punishment in place for parents of kids that have it so they watch what their children are doing on their devices. The comparison and what is being put out there are the truths can be damaging to children so why would we continue to allow them to put a fake number on their age to have it.

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What are your thoughts based on the information presented in these chapters?

1. Part 4: Moving Forward

The key takeaways from Haidt to mitigate anxiety in future generations is to be more mindful.  Be deliberate and mindful in experiences.  Modeling and teaching kids how to be present in what is going on around them.  If we allow the kids to have real experiences rather than social media experiences, they will learn how to problem solve and be successful.  Being a mindful adult helping students and kids is important too because it allows us to teach kids how to fail with grace.  We are there to support them and teach them.  To sum it up, my takeaway is that Haidt feels we should be mindful with kids- I agree with him!

The insights from this book, in my opinion, are very meaningful and feel that they hit the nail on the head.  What I feel we should do with this information is to continue to spread it.  Educating parents and students on the dangers of social media and screen-based childhood will empower families, educators, and the communities to make informed decisions.  As the expression goes, knowledge is power!  I think that we are in a fast-paced world now so we have to be ever changing and keep up with what kids and ourselves are exposing ourselves to.

As a whole, we need to remove screens from childhood.  Is that feasible?  Not in our current culture.  But if we give our children more deliberate exposure to screens, educate people on the addiction of social media, and empower people to take control of their screen uses, we will see results.  I also feel our government needs to become more knowledgeable on social media and the algorithms used to form addictions for people to smartphones and apps.  There needs to be more regulation.  As school districts, schools should have NO PHONES and more balanced uses of technology, most importantly, less screen time for the kids.