In this special episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt for a live conversation on how smartphones and social media are transforming childhood — and what parents, schools, and policymakers can do in response.

Recorded at Guild Hall in East Hampton, this discussion dives into the big questions raised in Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation — and the points where he and Dr. Anderson see things differently.

They talk candidly about screen time, youth anxiety, social media “addiction,” digital literacy, tech regulation, and why we’re seeing such sharp mental health shifts in teens and tweens.

Whether you’re alarmed by what you see on your kid’s phone or just looking for practical next steps, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and room for multiple perspectives.

Topics include:
– The “post-play childhood” and decline in free time
– When (and if) kids should be using social media
– Why phones in schools are so hard to manage
– Where tech harms hit boys vs. girls differently
– What parents can do now — even if the genie’s already out of the bottle

Resources
– Learn more about The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: jonathanhaidt.com
– Explore the Child Mind Institute’s Screen Time & Technology resources: childmind.org/topics/screen-time-technology

Learn how to help kids use screens in a healthy way.
Special thanks to Guild Hall and the Hamptons Institute for hosting this event, and to journalist and filmmaker Perri Peltz for moderating with insight and care.