Phone Harm

Recently I did a show about the seeming mental health crisis among youth. I mentioned many of the attacks on our youth today, such as sexual perversion, lack of play and so much more. Since, I have become aware of a book called, The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt. He says that the smart phone has brought much harm to young people, with depression and even suicide greatly increasing. He says that young people have gone from play based to phone based, and that this has even change the chemistry in their minds. He says get the phones away from the kids until at least 16, and then in a limited way, even using a flip phone. He recommends much more authentic play, even play gatherings in the evenings or weekends among friends. And he calls for more recess during school.
Much damage is being done to our young people from so many fronts, as Mr. Haidt points out, the smart phone is a major culprit.