When I was about twelve years old, I walked into a room where my mother and father were talking softly. As I entered, they ceased talking, their expressions seemed guilty as if they had been caught. It was clear that my presence had been an unwelcome interruption, so I left the room. As I left, I heard my mother say, “Do you think he heard?” My father said no.
I think this is an interesting take, though I'll quibble about teens being smarter. I don't think smarter is the correct word and I think it matters. I think they are more aware, more informed but that does not make one smarter and, unfortunately, they are more aware in negative ways. To quote Inigo Montoya, let me explain. Statistically, the country is a safer place than it was when we were kids but it does not seem that way. Why? Awareness. Information. I live in the NYC suburbs and 65 years ago, if a shooting took place in OR or WA I was unlikely to hear about it. I was unlikely to hear about crimes in 49 other states or even 100 miles away in NY. The world seems less safe today because we are aware of a murder in towns we never heard about back then. While there are fewer murders, more news of fewer murders reaches us and, in the 24/7 news cycle, it is repeated over and over and over. So, bad news, even while there might actually be less, seems omnipresent and I use murders as only one example.
Teens, and the parents and grandparents, are more informed so life seems more perilous and that can, and does, cause anxiety. Then there are discussions about these things so there is more talk of anxiety. Here is a favorite (not exactly) example. After Sandy Hook and a few other school shootings, the local school district decided it was important to lock the doors to the schools. I was raising a grandson and did, occasionally, have to go to the school to meet with various staff members. Suddenly, I had to stop outside and announce myself to an intercom and then, once the door buzzed open, I was greeted by a security guard. That wasn't the environment I wished for, but it was secondary to what this meant to the kids. They were aware of the security and they had lockdown drills. Of course, nearby school districts were all doing the same thing (to cover themselves more than to protect the kids) despite the odds of it happening were infinitesimal. However, it sent a clear message to the kids. Be afraid! Be afraid!
So, we are seeing a generation grow up with taught anxiety -- taught by the news and by the schools. Are they smarter? No. Their reading, writing and math skills are no better than mine at their age. But, are they more informed and more aware. Yes, and that is not entirely a good thing.
Last example. There were kids in the community who did not play pick-up ball games because there would be no adult supervision. An attorney friend of mine lamented this fact because he understood that unsupervised games were places kids learned conflict resolution. Again, kids were made aware of certain risks but denied some good life experiences.
Your hypothesis is that the constant brutal information revealed by the internet contributes to anxiety and depression. I think you have a good point. You could label it the 'ignorance is bliss' hypothesis. I visualize how people living in small towns across America in the 1950's who only got a little bit of news from the radio were probably much less stressed than your average American teenager is today. Many people have told me that they are reducing their consumption of new online for this very reason. But, as Dr. Haidt points out, it is unlikely that a single reason accounts for the rise in teen depression starting about 2010.
I think this is an interesting take, though I'll quibble about teens being smarter. I don't think smarter is the correct word and I think it matters. I think they are more aware, more informed but that does not make one smarter and, unfortunately, they are more aware in negative ways. To quote Inigo Montoya, let me explain. Statistically, the country is a safer place than it was when we were kids but it does not seem that way. Why? Awareness. Information. I live in the NYC suburbs and 65 years ago, if a shooting took place in OR or WA I was unlikely to hear about it. I was unlikely to hear about crimes in 49 other states or even 100 miles away in NY. The world seems less safe today because we are aware of a murder in towns we never heard about back then. While there are fewer murders, more news of fewer murders reaches us and, in the 24/7 news cycle, it is repeated over and over and over. So, bad news, even while there might actually be less, seems omnipresent and I use murders as only one example.
Teens, and the parents and grandparents, are more informed so life seems more perilous and that can, and does, cause anxiety. Then there are discussions about these things so there is more talk of anxiety. Here is a favorite (not exactly) example. After Sandy Hook and a few other school shootings, the local school district decided it was important to lock the doors to the schools. I was raising a grandson and did, occasionally, have to go to the school to meet with various staff members. Suddenly, I had to stop outside and announce myself to an intercom and then, once the door buzzed open, I was greeted by a security guard. That wasn't the environment I wished for, but it was secondary to what this meant to the kids. They were aware of the security and they had lockdown drills. Of course, nearby school districts were all doing the same thing (to cover themselves more than to protect the kids) despite the odds of it happening were infinitesimal. However, it sent a clear message to the kids. Be afraid! Be afraid!
So, we are seeing a generation grow up with taught anxiety -- taught by the news and by the schools. Are they smarter? No. Their reading, writing and math skills are no better than mine at their age. But, are they more informed and more aware. Yes, and that is not entirely a good thing.
Last example. There were kids in the community who did not play pick-up ball games because there would be no adult supervision. An attorney friend of mine lamented this fact because he understood that unsupervised games were places kids learned conflict resolution. Again, kids were made aware of certain risks but denied some good life experiences.
More aware, more informed, not smarter.
Your hypothesis is that the constant brutal information revealed by the internet contributes to anxiety and depression. I think you have a good point. You could label it the 'ignorance is bliss' hypothesis. I visualize how people living in small towns across America in the 1950's who only got a little bit of news from the radio were probably much less stressed than your average American teenager is today. Many people have told me that they are reducing their consumption of new online for this very reason. But, as Dr. Haidt points out, it is unlikely that a single reason accounts for the rise in teen depression starting about 2010.