How Technology is Rewiring Childhood Mental Health

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Jonathan Haidt “Technology is rewiring childhood mental health.”

Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness takes a hard look at the rise of anxiety and depression among young people in the age of smartphones and social media. Haidt, a social psychologist, argues that this “Great Rewiring” has fundamentally altered the way children grow up, replacing real-world experiences with virtual interactions that can be detrimental to mental health. The book suggests that the widespread use of internet-connected devices starting around 2010 has profoundly impacted childhood development, contributing to a surge in mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Technology is rewiring childhood mental health.

Haidt outlines how changes in parenting styles have played a role in this crisis. In an effort to keep children safe, many parents have adopted a more protective approach, limiting the kind of unsupervised, physical play that research shows is critical for healthy development. At the same time, children are left unsupervised in the “Wild West” of the internet, where social media, gaming, and other digital activities consume hours of their time. According to Haidt, this combination of “overprotection” in the physical world and unlimited digital access results in what he calls “experience blockers.” These blockers prevent kids from acquiring the variety of real-world experiences needed for building resilience, coping skills, and social competence.

Personal Experience Technology is rewiring childhood mental health.

As a speech and language pathologist in the schools, I see firsthand how the changes Haidt describes manifest even among our youngest students. The rise in anxiety is evident, and it’s affecting children as early as kindergarten through second grade. Over the years, I’ve observed the impact of reduced recess time—sacrificed in favor of increased instructional minutes—on children’s ability to navigate social situations. When I work with students on social skills, the difference between structured activities with specific rules versus unstructured play is striking. During structured activities, I set the order for taking turns, which helps manage interactions and ensures fairness. However, when I step back and give students the freedom to direct their own play, I often see struggles. Some children hoard toys, exclude others, or look to me to intervene when conflicts arise. These behaviors reflect the very challenges Haidt discusses—the struggle to navigate real-world social dynamics without adult mediation.

As a grandparent, I am heartened by how my own children are raising their kids. My grandchildren—a second grader and a preschooler—spend much of their time engaged in imaginative play outdoors. Whether they’re at home constructing games with uniforms, rules, and statistics or spending summer days on the beach building sandcastles and crabbing with friends, they have ample opportunities to create their own fun. Even their one-year-old sister tries to join in on the action, demonstrating the value of these inclusive, unstructured play experiences. Watching them interact, I’m reminded of how important it is for children to have the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and learn from one another. It’s the kind of childhood Haidt advocates for—a world where kids are free to take risks and engage deeply with the real world.

In The Anxious Generation, Haidt calls for a societal shift. He urges parents, educators, and policymakers to promote more outdoor play and establish firm boundaries around technology use. His suggestions include raising the minimum age for social media to 16, implementing phone-free school policies, and encouraging environments that foster more in-person social interactions. These recommendations are crucial for counteracting the “experience blockers” that have crept into modern childhood and for giving children the tools to thrive in a complex world.

As we continue to navigate the impact of technology on young lives, Haidt’s insights offer a critical reminder that real-world experiences are essential for healthy development. For the sake of our children and future generations, it’s time to rethink how we integrate technology into their lives and strive to bring back the kind of play and exploration that builds resilience, creativity, and joy. I would recommend reading Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness for practical solutions to this crisis.