Anxious Generation - A path forward
How can we protect our children from smartphones and social media?
Jonathan Haidt's book The Anxious Generation has alerted the world to the effects of smartphones and social media on a generation. Screen time deprives children of the experiences needed to develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Mental health problems are soaring. In 2021, the CDC reported that 58% of teen girls had a chronic sense of hopelessness or despair. And it's getting worse.
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We are trying to have phones banned in Norwell Public schools, and have filed legislation at the state level as well. In the meantime, we're trying to build community action around non-screen based activities: getting kids outside, engaging in unsupervised play, and developing socially.
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The immediate goal is to propose a phone ban to the Norwell School Committee. If you can spend one hour on a Monday night in support of this initiative, please let us know, below.
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The movement to build community action is here. Can you help?​​​​​​
Interested in helping?
Tell us who you are if you can help be part of this effort.
Other resources:
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Anxious Generation resources: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/resources
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Wait Until 8th (grade, that is). A national support resource: https://www.waituntil8th.org/
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​Where schools have already banned phones:
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Brockton High: "The best school year I've had."
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Texas: “The hallways get loud,” Jones concedes. “But it’s a good loud.”
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Indiana: "The policy has shifted the classroom environment for everyone."
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Not convinced? Consider the news highlights demonstrating the movement around the world to protect vulnerable children from the effects of screen addiction on their path to adulthood. ​
