The Anxious Generation — Book by Jonathan Haidt

Something changed around 2012. Kids got smartphones. And then something went very wrong.

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt makes the case that the great rewiring of childhood — trading outdoor play and face-to-face connection for a phone-based life — is the root cause of the mental health crisis sweeping through Gen Z and beyond.

This isn't a book about blaming parents or panicking about screens. It's a rigorous, compassionate look at what actually happened — and what we can do about it. Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or just trying to understand your own anxiety, this book will change how you see the world.

You'll come away understanding:

• Why rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm spiked so sharply after 2012
• How social media rewired childhood development
• The difference between a phone-based and play-based childhood
• Practical steps families, schools, and governments can take

One of the most important books written about mental health in the modern age.