AMA: Our Brains on Smartphones
What science says about how you, the government, and institutions can help young people (and yourself) navigate the world of addictive tech.
Housekeeping
This post is for Members, who are curious and ask good questions. Want the answer to this week’s questions? Become a Member below.
The 2% Screen Time Challenge is in full effect—and we’ve got a leader on the board. You can still sign up here.
In today’s AMA, we’ll be tackling one question:
What can we do about the problems kids and adults face with smartphones?
Topics include:
My recent appearance on Fox News to talk about the harms of smartphones.
Why teens are more susceptible to issues from smartphones, and how adults are at risk of the same problems.
Why the issue isn't as simple as "use your phone less."
What we can do at a governmental and institutional level to solve the smartphone conundrum.
What parents who have kids and teens might consider doing to set their kids up for success.
Recall that we voted to have AMAs be off-the-cuff podcast answers rather than written pieces. The audio is below.
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Below are relevant links, the audio, and a quick writeup of the transcript
Relevant links
Jonathan Haidt’s recent Atlantic piece, End the Phone-Based Childhood Now.
Why quitting a smartphone habit is just like quitting a drug: The Smartphone Withdrawal Effect.
Why adults escape into smartphones and Five Ways to Leverage the Power of Emotions.
UNESCO research on how banning smartphones in schools leads to improved academic performance and less bullying.
A deep dive into how alterations in teen brains make them more susceptible to the potential harms of smartphones.