Latest news with #AnxiousGeneration
Fox News
5 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Michelle Obama tells parents they must get tougher on kids' social media use despite the 'pain'
Former first lady Michelle Obama urged parents to get "tougher" on their kids' social media use during the Wednesday episode of her podcast, "IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson." Obama spoke with social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt about his 2024 book, "The Anxious Generation," in which Haidt argues that extensive social media and smartphone use have harmful effects on children's brains and well-being. Kids who grew up with a "phone-based childhood" are more likely to encounter anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, he says. During the hour-long discussion, Haidt talked about how social media rewires the brain by stimulating the release of the "reward" brain chemical, dopamine, which fuels an addiction to social media. Obama said that parents need to realize that making tough parenting decisions on things like social media will lead to long-term benefits for their child, even though giving in to their kids' wants, or their own social media fixation, may be tempting in the moment. "Parents suffer from this dopamine thing too when it comes to parenting. Because we want instant reward response from our children. We don't want to wait. We don't want to do the longer-haul thing. You know, a lot of times we have to ask ourselves, 'Are we doing this for our kids, or are we doing this for us?' Because we have the screen too," she said. "And we're being trained on that instant gratification. Maybe the 90-minute story is a problem for us, because we can't sit still. The bottom line is that we've got to get tougher. We've got to get more resilient for our kids. Because I know time and time again that a lot of parents do what's easy for them, you know, and not necessarily what's best for the kid," she continued. Obama told parents there would be "parental pain" that comes with this tough-love approach. "We have to become a little more resilient as parents. We have to become tougher for the sake of our kids… It's not fun. All of it is going to be really, really hard, physically, emotionally, one of the toughest things you do," she warned. "You will be disappointing them, and scaring them and making them hurt and arguing with them and doing all the things that you don't want to do with your best friends. But in the end, as parents, we are responsible for securing the safety and the health of the children we bring into this world. And that means, once we know that something isn't good for them… we've got to do the hard thing, we've got to take the substance from the addict," she said. "And it's not going to be fun," she added. Obama also told parents they shouldn't try to be "friends" with their kids.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michelle Obama says good parenting involves knowing that your kids are 'not your friends'
Michelle Obama says good parenting means understanding "that your children are not your friends." Parents must hold firm on their boundaries since kids will always test how far they can push. "All they have time for is to outlast you, to wear you down," the former first lady said. Michelle Obama says parents shouldn't give in too easily to their kids' demands. On Wednesday's episode of the "IMO" podcast, which she cohosts with her brother, Craig Robinson, Obama spoke about how parents can enforce rules around screen time and social media use for their kids. The episode featured guest Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author of "The Anxious Generation." In response to a listener's question about the challenges she faced in managing her daughters' digital habits, Obama said that parents should "understand that your children are not your friends." She said it's important for parents to set clear boundaries that they believe in and that they stick to "all the time," since kids are always testing how far they can push before adults cave. "They're waiting for you to go back on your word. They're waiting to see how long it will take. How many times can I outlast you? Because, as I say, they've got time on their hands. Kids don't have jobs. They have no responsibility. They are not paying bills. All they have time for is to outlast you, to wear you down," the former first lady said. Reflecting on their upbringing, Robinson added that their mother believed saying no wasn't enough. "I was just thinking about how our parents parented and what my mom would say about saying 'No' is that it's not just saying 'No,' it's holding your 'No' accountable," Robinson said. "It is explaining why you're saying 'No,' and it's outlasting your kids." That's why parents need to be steadfast in their willingness to do the hard things needed to keep their kids safe, Obama said. "You will be disappointing them, and scaring them, and making them hurt, and arguing with them, and doing all the things that you don't wanna do with your best friends," Obama said. "But in the end, as parents, we are responsible for securing the safety and the health of the children we bring into this world." Drawing on his experience working with Gen Z, Haidt said that many of those in their 20s often say they're grateful their parents delayed giving them phones or social media access. "What you'll never hear is a 23-year-old Gen Z saying, 'I wish my parents had given me a smartphone and social media in middle school,'" Haidt said. Even though it may be difficult to keep kids off social media, it'll be worth it in the end, he said. Obama and Robinson aren't the only ones who have spoken up about the impact of social media and screen use on kids. In a January 2024 interview, Penélope Cruz called social media "a cruel experiment on children, on teenagers." "It's so easy to be manipulated, especially if you have a brain that is still forming," Cruz told Elle. In May, Kate Winslet's Gen Z daughter, Mia Threapleton, said she has "never had" social media and doesn't want it, adding that her mom encouraged her to make a list of pros and cons for joining Instagram when she was 14. "The cons completely outweighed the pros for me," Threapleton said. This comes as several countries around the world — including Australia and Norway — are exploring ways to implement stricter controls on social media use for kids. A representative for Obama and Robinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours. Read the original article on Business Insider
Arab News
5 days ago
- Health
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Anxious Generation' by Jonathan Haidt
In 'The Anxious Generation,' Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences.
Fox News
30-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
The Anxious Generation
Martha revisits her conversation with social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt discussing his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' He explains the unique childhood experience for Gen Z growing up surrounded by electronic devices. Jonathan details how the prevalence of smartphones and social media platforms during such a transformative time for young folks has spurred a mental health epidemic and gives advice to parents on how to help their children weather the dangers of the internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Four steps we can take to improve mental health, especially among youth
As a parent of tweens (10 and almost 12), I'm forever reminded of how little I know and how "cringe" I can be. And to be honest, I'm fine with my lack of knowledge of skibidi and cybertrucks and the latest skincare trends. But when it comes to understanding what's going on in youth mental health, I'm not so nonchalant. I want to know better to do better. I'm constantly reminded that the world they are growing up in is very different than the world in which I grew up. In the 1980s and 90s, we didn't have 24/7 visuals on what our peers were doing and algorithms designed to keep us scrolling. I have followed the many headlines about the growing youth mental health crisis. And it strikes me: the problem is not our teens. The problem is the conditions in which they are growing up. As Dr. Lisa Damour reminds us, teens are not fragile or damaged; it's normal to have intense emotions that go up and down, and the single most powerful force in teen mental health is strong relationships with caring adults. More: Lindner Center of Hope $38 million building to expand mental health treatment | Going Up As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, I am thinking of the steps each one of us can take to improve mental health and well-being in our community − and especially among youth. Here are some things we all can do: Practice ASK (Acknowledge, Support, and Keep in touch) with people in your life who may be struggling with their mental health. Encourage social connection − join a group that gathers regularly around a hobby, fitness, community service, or professional interest. Strengthen safe and supportive spaces for youth by being a safe, trusted adult. Lean into curiosity and empathy. Improve your conversational skills by talking to youth about emotions with resources at Sound It Out Together More: Ohio Senate votes to ban students from using phones during school hours Recently, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!) held a virtual conversation with Jonathan Haidt, author of the best-selling book "Anxious Generation." With powerful data and stories, he reminded us that "we are overprotecting our children in the real world while underprotecting them online." And he encouraged the Cincinnati community to join other cities nationally in building four new norms that create a healthier foundation for childhood in the digital age: No phones in school all day. Many local schools are grappling with cell phone policies. At Cincinnati Country Day, an "away all day" policy has made a positive impact, and even students like it. This type of policy is backed by evidence: 60% of students report spending at least 10% of class time on their phones. No smartphones until high school. While admittedly hard, this gets easier as more families align in setting a new norm. Safe-tech phones that offer calling, texting, and apps without internet access are a good option for middle school years. No social media until age 16. Research supports aligning children's access to technology with their developmental growth. Experts recommend waiting until 16, when impulse control and emotional regulation have progressed. Give kids more freedom to play without supervision. Allowing more independence and responsibility, like walking home from school or making the family dinner, brings kids joy and builds confidence. This month, I'm reflecting on the ways I can better show up for my kids and for kids in our community − and especially how I can help build better connections and experiences in real life (or IRL, as they would say). We all have a role to play in establishing new norms that provide a better childhood and a brighter future for our youth. I invite you to be part of this movement. Our kids deserve it. Kate Schroder is president and CEO of Interact for Health. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you are not alone. Call or text the 988-suicide crisis hotline. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Establishing new norms for kids is key to good mental health | Opinion
