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The Terrible Costs of a Phone-Based Childhood (www.theatlantic.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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By a variety of measures and in a variety of countries, the members of Generation Z (born in and after 1996) are suffering from anxiety, depression, self-harm, and related disorders at levels higher than any other generation for which we have data.

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[–] [email protected] 39 points 8 months ago (2 children)

the size of the relationship is often statistically small, which has led some researchers to conclude that these new technologies are not responsible for the gigantic increases in mental illness that began in the early 2010s.

Anyway, here's 8500 words about why we are blaming cell phones anyway.

(Surely it's not also the terrible economic landscape, hyper-competitive education system, or the collapse of community institutions...)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It’s all of those. As a father of teenagers, I can definitely add a subjective opinion that phones are TERRIBLE for teenagers. It reinforces all their fears and multiplies all their false certainties.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

false certainties

As a fellow father of teenagers, I agree and want to thank you for introducing me to this phrase. I didn't have a simple phrase for "doesn't care about school, thinks he will be a millionaire by age 20."

One unfortunate aspect I've found is that (n=1) a grounding involving taking away phone time besides one hour in the evening until grades improve doesn't provide all that much motivation to improve grades. An allowed hour because complete social isolation is not a helpful punishment.

It does, however, greatly improve mood and ability to focus and think through problems. I had the same false certainties as a teenager - that's a failure on us (the parents), and goes beyond smartphones, but grades are important.

'Grades are important' is not something I ever thought I would say, but as an old person I understand now... It's not the grade itself, it's what the grade represents - foresight, seeing the bigger picture, and effort and commitment to something.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

%90 of the teenagers who said they are depressed also have phones. Much significance, many r, wow p value