"The Amazing Generation" by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price is targeted for teenagers, young adults and their parents with the focus on smart phones. Lots of illustrations, pop-ups and comic stories.
As a retired senior I recognize I have also been sucked in, although, my smart phone is used only for very occasional phone calls and taking photos. My laptop is used mainly as a tool, but I am easily taken down other paths.
Designers for the most part do not let their own children get too involved with smart phones and computers. At the same time they are developing addictive features and how to mine the information they gather from the participation of many adolescents and the rest of us.
The authors point out that baby boomers spent their childhood unsupervised when not in school. That is how I remember it. Starting around the 1980's parents did get nervous perhaps and started getting their children in structured activities such as music, dancing and sports. Television had become more common, but no streaming. Phones were plugged in and if you wanted more privacy there were pay phones. One writer in person pointed out his privacy was limited by the chord length of his parent's phone. Computers were becoming more common and evolving towards use in business and personal. Wi-fi and websites developed along with digital cameras.
The big change came on January 9, 2007 when Steve Jobs announced the Iphone. From there, apps developed. Smart phones became common and were quickly picked up by youngsters. Phones were now mobile. Designers quickly spotted opportunities. Advertisers soon discovered that valuable information could be easily gathered and used for targeting.
Smart phones were entertaining and had advantages for getting information and communicating. Too much time on smart phones led to mental health issues especially among adolescents when their brains are making major changes. Depression was one result for some. Others were made to feel anxious.
We have all encountered groups of people staring at their phones rather than talking to one another. Too many will interrupt a conversation in order to check their phone, an action called phubbing. Some bullied others because it is so much easier than in person. Perhaps the most serious problem is the waste of time. Phones detract from studying, working and even relating to people on hand. In the primitive era, people had to be alert to distractions as they could be fatal. Today we need to learn to concentrate. We are prone to multi-tasking (guilty), but that slows one down.
Many are wondrous of the "free" service, but they should realize the service is not the product, they are. Every minute they are on the phone, someone is scooping up more information.
How can you fight, and fill your life with real friendships, freedom and fun. It might be hard to pull yourself away from the grip of your phone, but as Tyler Smallwood points out "if you can do one hard thing you can do another." A few suggestions:
-count breaths
-5-4-3-2-1 think of 5 things you can see, then 4 things you can feel, then listen for 3
seconds, then identify 2 smells, then focus on one taste
-carry something to write on
-read
-look for new things to do
There are many other suggestions. You are re-wiring your brain and it is important to be moving.
There have been legal actions such as META being successfully sued. There are government actions such as in Australia where they have legislated restrictions for students. Many other actions are being organized, but while they may improve things you have to think about children and parents.
Jonathan Haidt has had an impact on me over the years. Glad he recognizes that children need protection. Below are three posts I have found very helpful.
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/02/the-righteous-mind.html
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/10/are-you-interested-in-happiness.html
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/the-anxious-generation.html
The jacket art has been done by Cynthia Yuan Cheng and shed also provided illustrations within the book.
