About This Book
In the early 2010s, teen mental health collapsed. Jonathan Haidt explains why — and what to do about it.
The culprit, Haidt argues, is the shift from a "play-based childhood" to a "phone-based childhood." He presents over a dozen mechanisms — sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, social comparison, addiction — by which smartphones have rewired adolescent development.
Most importantly, the book proposes four actionable rules for parents, teachers, schools, and tech companies to reverse the damage and restore a healthier childhood.