The Anxious Generation

This book is very good and I would encourage everyone, but especially those with children, to read it. However it's also frustrating because the evidence seems so clear that we are headed towards a bad result and we will just not course correct in any sort of meaningful way. I hope this book inspires A) a small amount of parents to be more intentional with their kid's level of screens, B) a small amount of people to be more intentional with their own level of screens, and C) more research and books into this topic which will hopefully result in D) some actual change on a societal level.

But we'll see.

I wasn't getting anything particularly interesting out of this book. I lost interest in it in general.

Almost everyone is a sceptic on big tech, especially since the rise of tik tok and its clones. But the evidence shown in this book has almost radicalised me in this belief. Its made me reconsider my childhood and more so the upbringing a lot of my generation had. I had already deleted my social media before reading this, but if I hadn't already I don't know what else would make you take the plunge.

Its made me think very deeply about how I'd like to raise my future children, and more importantly how to build a community where they can thrive.

Social media is a disease. This books is about how to protect your kids but it doesn't take into account that you need to save yourself first. Parents using smartphones all the time can't inhibit kids from wanting the same.

Still, the argument is pretty irrefutable - social media and screen addiction is enshittifying people of all ages.

This left me both feeling hopeless and hopeful. Working at a primary school I'm taking from this some great ideas for things to do for our students and that makes me hopeful. The idea that we would need a certain type of herd immunity to change the course at this point leaves me feeling bereft. But still, I've asked my 11 year old and 18 year old to read this. Small steps, right?

There is now of course contention around this book.

Is it all true or the only cause probably not.

Does he offer good suggestions I think so.

As a work of popular social science, the book is decent. As a call to arms for parents and all of us to preserve the existence of a play-based childhood and adolescence with limited influence from phones and social media, the book is excellent.