Dr. Jonathan Haidt: How Smartphones & Social Media Impact Mental Health & the Realistic Solutions

Jonathan Haidt discusses the societal and technological changes over the decades that have influenced the rise of smartphone and social media use among children, leading to a dramatic shift in their daily lives.

The pivotal shift from community-centered to technology-centered childhood in the 2010s

Around 2010 to 2012, what Haidt refers to as "act three," is when children's life experiences shifted from community-centered activities to a more technology-centered lifestyle due to the rapid adoption of smartphones and social media. In contrast to the previous decade, by 2015, most American teens owned smartphones equipped with front-facing cameras, high-speed internet, and unlimited texting. This allowed them to potentially spend many hours a day on their phones, engaging with platforms like Instagram, which required a smartphone, unlike the web-based platforms that preceded it.

Prior to 2010, children had more play-based, community-centered childhoods, with ample time for exploration, adventure, and social interaction

In 2010, children still experienced largely human-to-human interactions, engaging in significant in-person play. During this period, adventures and building forts were typical childhood activities.

The rapid adoption of smartphones and social media platforms among youth from 2010-2015 drastically changed children's daily lives and social interactions

Haidt characterizes the evolution of childhood in the 2010s as a movement from outdoor, community-based activities to lives dominated by the use of smartphones and social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. The overwhelming presence of technology in children's lives is likened to spending 8 to 10 hours a day in a digitally constructed casino, where tech companies strive to maximize kids' time spent on their platforms.

The loss of trust in neighbors and community safety that led to more restrictive, supervised childhoods

Jonathan Haidt elaborates on the historical shift from outdoor, unsupervised play to more restrictive, supervised childhoods, a change rooted in increased fears for children's safety.

In the 1950s-1970s, children had more freedom to play and explore their neighborhoods unsupervised

Haidt recounts the days when children were familiar with their neighbors and freely roamed their neighborhoods. He recollects the childhoods of the 1930s and 40s and notes how kids were sent out to play and adventure on their own due to a high degree of trust within communities.

Increased crime rates and media reports of child abductions in the 1980s-1990s caused parents to become more fearful and restrictive

The emergence of media reports on child abductions and ...

Jonathan Haidt and Andrew Huberman discuss the negative effects of excessive smartphone and social media use on youth, particularly the drastic rise in mental health issues among girls starting around 2012 and differing impacts on boys and girls.

The drastic rise in anxiety, depression and self-harm among girls starting around 2012

Haidt describes a sharp increase in the rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among girls, visualized as an elbow or hockey stick increase in graphs dating from the 1990s through 2011. This alarming uptick begins around 2012, with hospital admissions for self-harm and psychiatric emergency department visits showing the same sharp increase for girls. This pattern persists across various developed countries, such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Scandinavian countries, from around 2012 onward. Haidt attributes this increase to the proliferation of smartphones and social media usage. The suicide rate among girls has also increased, despite that their methods are often less violent compared to boys.

The differential impacts on boys versus girls

Boys tend to gravitate towards violent games and adult content online, which can disrupt social development, while girls suffer more from social comparison and performance anxiety due to social media platforms. Haidt elaborates on how boys can become entrapped by content related to war, violence, or adult material, which aligns with their interests, such as remote control and action at a distance. Huberman notes that the environment on platforms frequented by boys may foster aggression or competitiveness. On the other hand, girls may experience more despair, anxiety, and self-critique due to social shunning and shaming prevalent on social media.

The detrimental effects of constant digital stimulation and lack of real-world social interaction

Huberman discusses the disruptions caused by extensive smartphone use, including disrupted sleep and increased exposure to blue light. Haidt talks about various negative impacts, such as youth being overwhelmed with constant stimulation, leading to loneliness and anxiety. The constant stream of info ...

In the digital age, the prevalence of smartphones and social media has introduced a host of neurobiological challenges. Jonathan Haidt and Andrew Huberman elucidate the addictive nature of these technologies, driven by dopamine and rapid reinforcement.

The role of dopamine and rapid delopment in different aspects of tech use

Smartphone and social media use trigger rapid dopamine release, creating an addictive cycle

Smartphone and social media use lead to rapid dopamine release which creates a cycle of craving and short-term reward. Haidt describes short videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube as highly addictive due to the immediate reinforcement that spikes dopamine. Huberman explains dopamine as a "reinforcement system," essential to wanting, craving, and pushing for rewards.

This rapid increase and subsequent crash in dopamine can lead to a state of misery and the propagation of behaviors triggering the initial spike, ultimately leading to addiction or habit formation. Such spikes are often achieved without effort, bypassing natural processes like courtship or negotiation, thus wiring the reinforcement loop for immediate gratification.

As a result, instead of engaging in prolonged and effortful experiences, such as developing relationships, which release dopamine and other neurochemicals in a slower, sustained manner, individuals resort to instant digital gratification. Haidt points out that the easy access to pornography on smartphones can replace the slower process of building relationships, disrupting the natural reward processes associated with interpersonal interactions and achievements.

The sensitivity of adolescent brain development to environmental influences

The adolescent brain is particularly susceptible to environmental influences due to its heightened state of neuroplasticity during puberty. Haidt compares children's exposure to smartphones and social media to junk food consumption, describing them as "super stimuli" that deliver quick hits, satisfying evolved motives and leading to rapid dopamine release. Huberman emphasizes that passive experiences during adolescence significantly shape social relationships, self-concept, and sensory interpretations of the world.

Puberty is noted as a critical age for cultural learning and identity formation. During this time, significant brain changes occur in the hypothalamus and frontal lobe, which is responsible for impulse regulation. However, the high exposure to intense stimuli such as violent content or pornography, which provides high dopamine stimulus, can wire neural circuits incorrectly, dulling the impact of other, more adaptive experiences.

The developmental ramifications of excessive smartphone and social media use during adolescence

Excessive smartphone and social m ...

Jonathan Haidt argues for a reduction in screen time for children, delaying access to smartphones and social media, and advocating for the restoration of traditional, play-based activities during childhood. Below are the solutions and recommendations he proposes.

Delaying access to smartphones and social media until high school or later

Haidt proposes not giving smartphones to children before high school, suggesting flip phones during the pre-high school years to avoid the neurobiological impacts of early exposure to technology. He also recommends that social media access be delayed until the age of 16, suggesting social media is inappropriate for minors because the potential harm outweighs the benefits, especially during the sensitive period of puberty. He likens smartphones in the hands of children to cigarettes. Haidt enforces a personal rule with his daughter not to have Snapchat until she is 16 and believes this should be the norm.

Creating more opportunities for real-world play, exploration and independence

Haidt encourages activities like team sports and outdoor adventures, which he says are protective and promote cooperation. He suggests giving kids an exciting childhood with adventures and thrills to counteract the appeal of smartphones and social media. He talks about allowing his kids to roam free in places like Coney Island, fostering real-world exploration and independence. Additionally, an "awe walk" is recommended as a beneficial and independent activity, implying a reduction in adult supervision and an increase in opportunities for children to engage in unstructured free play and learn to navigate social dynamics on their own.

Implementing policies for phone-free schools and reduced in-school screen time

Haidt calls for phone-free schools, expressing concern over students using smartphones in class and emphasizing the importance of eliminating distractions for a better learning environment. He is part of a growing movement of parents, principals, and teachers who support phone-free policies. Haidt advises schools should lock up phones during the day to minimize conflict and distractions. The concept of sending kids to phone-free camps and encouraging activities like sports without screens are seen as steps toward fostering less screen time.

Building a community consensus around these new norms to make them the expectation, not the exception

Coordination with othe ...