The Anxious Generation

I loved The Anxious Generation because Jonathan Haidt really digs into why today’s kids are struggling so much with mental health. He captures how social media, school pressure, and other stressors pile up, and his insights made me think deeply about how we can actually help kids build resilience. It’s a powerful, eye-opening read that left me inspired to keep working toward healthier futures for kids.

As a professional creating social media, a professor teaching social media, and a parent of children who grew up in a social media age this book pulled together all I was noticing and feeling the past decade. There are negative consequences of social media use that we must consider as a society, marketing professionals, and parents. The book helps me in my approach to teaching social media strategy and my understanding of my college students who are in the generation that Haidt discusses.

Jonathan Haidt is a role model of mine. His unique insights into societal issues are not just thought-provoking but transformative. I’m a father of two sons, so Professor Haidt’s insights on the challenges of today’s youth hit close to home for me. I find his research extremely important and relevant.

While reading, I was struck by his comparison of modern online friendships to what my generation grew up with. When I was growing up, the friends and groups we hung out with were highly formative and influential. But the modern generation is forming these relationships online; it's an entirely different… show more.