Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy recommended putting a warning on social media for minors last week, while governors from coast to coast have pushed for restrictions on teen phone use. But how worried should we really be, and what is there to do about it? Post columnists Amanda Ripley, Molly Roberts and Theodore Johnson talk through the dumbphone trend, how e ... Show More
Sep 11
This medieval revolt has a warning for today
More than six centuries ago, the Black Death wiped out nearly half of England’s population. Suddenly, workers had more power, wealthy landowners had less, and the old social order began to crack. When the ruling class tried to force that order back into place, anger erupted into ... Show More
31m 3s
Jun 2024
America’s Top Doctor on Why He Wants Warning Labels on Social Media
<p><i>Warning: This episode contains mentions of bullying and suicide.</i></p><p>A rising tide of mental health problems among teenagers has sent parents, teachers and doctors searching for answers. This week, the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, offered one: social med ... Show More
32m 23s
Nov 2023
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy: social media and America's youth crisis
Young people were struggling before the pandemic. Today, their mental health challenges are acute—and social media is making it worse. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has been sounding the alarm, and he tells Niala Boodhoo: "If we don't do something now, we are at risk of l ... Show More
21m 46s
Jun 2023
The Problem With Comparing Social Media to Big Tobacco
Politicians, pundits, and even the surgeon general have been highlighting the risks that social media poses to young people’s mental health. The problem is real—but is it as serious as those caused by cigarettes or drunk driving, and what can be done about it? Host Hanna Rosin ta ... Show More
39m 23s
Apr 2024
'Rewilding' the smartphone generation: one school's story
With young people in Britain and across the world increasingly reliant on smartphones, and many teens now openly admitting they’re addicted to social media, could an entire generation be suffering serious and irreversible damage, and what should we as a society do to stop it?This ... Show More
32m 16s