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

Virtual platforms replaced real communication, causing an epidemic of loneliness among young people. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt provides an evidence-based analysis of the consequences: excessive protection and the digital environment deprived young people of the chance to learn from their own mistakes—which is necessary for growing up. This has led to anxiety, the drive for perfection, and existential uncertainty, becoming the price for the illusion of control. Smartphones and social networks have radically changed everyday life, replacing face-to-face communication with feeds and likes—especially affecting the youth. Gadgets have become a cause of anxiety, low self-esteem, loneliness, and dependency. Constant connectivity and overprotection of children from physical and psychological threats took away their independence and the opportunity to learn skills important for adult life. Their belief in their own abilities disappeared, and the constant struggle for attention online only makes things worse. However, in Haidt’s view, this problem can be addressed—and action is needed now.