As smart phone use has soared, Generation Z’s mental health has plummeted. But just how bad is this crisis, and who should we hold responsible? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt sets out his comprehensive diagnosis of the problems caused by the mass integration of smartphones into every aspect of most children’s lives. […]
Oct 6
Downstream: Was the 20th Century a Catastrophe, or a Miracle? w/ Yanis Varoufakis
Economist, and former finance minister of Greece, Yanis Varoufakis joins Aaron to discuss his most recent book Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance, a memoir about the women in Yanis’ family who raised him, and gave him his political conscience. They discuss the Hege ... Show More
1h 52m
Sep 29
Downstream: The Right Is Stirring up Anti-Muslim Hate – and It’s Getting Worse w/ Myriam François
In the summer of 2024, hotels sheltering Muslim asylum seekers across Britain were attacked by violent mobs. A year later, as the summer of 2025 drew to a close, a far-right demonstration of 100,000 people marched through London, bearing St George’s flags and led by Tommy Robinso ... Show More
1h 41m
Jun 2025
556. How Social Media Is Wrecking Kids' Lives and Stealing Their Childhood | Jonathan Haidt
In this urgent conversation, Jonathan Haidt and Jordan Peterson dissect the silent catastrophe facing Gen Z—spiraling anxiety, attention collapse, and social isolation—all amplified by addictive tech. They explore the psychological and spiritual fallout of algorithm-optimized pla ... Show More
1h 35m
Sep 6
Extra: 'Anxious Generation' Author Jonathan Haidt On Cell Phones, Playing Outside And Raising Happy Kids
Kids today are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety than ever before, with many experts attributing this to constant screen time and social media exposure. In response, lawmakers and schools nationwide are experimenting with policies such as banning cell phones in the cl ... Show More
20m 26s
Sep 2024
Smartphones and children, mental health labels and climate anxiety
Smartphones are bad for the mental health of children and adolescents. At least, that’s the popular perception that has led to calls for smartphones to be banned for children under a certain age, with numerous media reports drumming home the narrative that smartphones are damagin ... Show More
27m 52s
Sep 2024
TED Talks Daily Book Club | Are smartphones ruining childhood? | Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation," is shaping cultural conversations and sparking fierce debates about the role of smartphones in society. In this timely conversation, he investigates how a smartphone-based childhood, amplified by overprot ... Show More
38m 51s