The Anxious Generation, Part II: Some Solutions

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Research shows that differences in generations are caused not only by life experiences (wars, famine, etc.) but also changes in technology. Since WW II, technological innovation has increased more rapidly every year. (Some people may remember Future Shock from the 1960s. Well, it has gotten exponentially worse!) And while such innovation does make our lives easier, the motives behind it – huge profits—are not always aligned with what is best for our future. 

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, I was always outside playing baseball, basketball, football, tag and more with other kids. No adults were around. We learned to resolve our differences. We behaved in ways that kept us connected to our circle of friends. 

Now we have internet technology, as I described in my last column – cell phones, social media, and video games. Excessive use of these can in some cases trigger suicide attempts, substance abuse, and other serious mental health challenges.

The big question then becomes, what can we do about all of this?

Three solutions emerge. One involves the presence of smartphones in schools. A second is governmental legal restrictions both concerning access and content young people are exposed to, state, national or local. A third is the role of parents in placing limits.

Take cell phones first. Should our schools ban cell phones outright? Will our state do this, or should our local Board of Education? New York City recently did this, and recent reports are of wonderfully positive changes in student interactions, a more positive vibe and fewer student behavioral/emotional issues. There are even recent studies claiming many students and parents support these bans, with students willing to rebel against being manipulated by big tech companies.

Technology does not always improve teaching. I know when I taught, my class was extremely interactive—I would ask questions and craft lessons based on students responses, encouraging student debate and an open exchange of differing opinions. History is not only facts, but it is also why things happened and what the consequences are, plus how we can apply it to our lives and learn from it. We all benefit from a welcome exchange of differing opinions, from the clash of ideas, done respectfully with an aim of growth. I found advancing technology sometimes got in the way—watching a movie or looking things up on a computer did not always promote a lively, healthy exchange of clashing ideas. 

As for government restrictions, Jonathan Haidt points out in his book The Anxious Generation that when TV and movies came along, similar things started to happen. Our society realized this and put age and content restrictions on both. Most of us agree young people should not be exposed to extremely violent or graphic sexual content. Australia just went further—they banned many social media platforms for anyone under 16, requiring platforms to institute reasonable steps to verify the age of users, with penalties for tech companies that are not compliant. 

Finally, it can be challenging to tell a child who claims all their friends have cell phones that they will not have one. There are parental support groups forming across our country and in fact across the world, to help them. These support groups can do a number of things--help parents find other like-minded parents to support each other, be consistent in what they allow their kids to do. Two existing parent groups are Smartphone Free Childhood (formed UK) and Wait Until 8th, a US group. There are online groups and groups that can be formed locally. I would gladly help form such a support group in Southington! Such groups could also advocate for both state and national restriction laws and local school phone policies. Students can also be part of the conversation: Haidt has recently written a book for students to read about all of this.

Another consideration is also important--if we limit smartphone accessibility to young people, what do we replace that with? Can we come up with alternate activities for their kids? Young people will not simply go back and start playing baseball on their own in back of their school like they did in my childhood. Can parents collaborate to organize alternate activities?

These are discussions our town should have, especially as we add AI to this trend. We need to seriously evaluate how we can best help our young people navigate a very different world than the one most of us grew up in. 

Bob Brown is a longtime Southington teacher and current Board of Education member.

Please note that any opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of The Southington Outsider.