The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

Acclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores how the decline of free play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents are reshaping our world.

Since 2010, as teens swapped their flip phones for smartphones filled with social media apps, unsupervised online time soared, while face-to-face conversations with friends and family significantly decreased, along with mental health. This shift occurred alongside growing childhood over-supervision and the loss of the freedom kids need to grow into strong, self-sufficient adults.

The Anxious Generation dives into the latest research to show how this transition from free play to smartphone dependency disrupts development, leading to issues like sleep deprivation and addiction, while laying the foundation for isolation and fear that now define much of society.

Combining ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science and offering practical advice, this thought-provoking book serves as a lifeline for anyone seeking to understand how the rapid rewiring of human relationships and consciousness has made it harder to think clearly, focus, care for others, and form meaningful connections.