Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Anxious Generation summary
How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
20 mins
Brief summary
The Anxious Generation examines the rising levels of anxiety and depression among young people. Jonathan Haidt investigates the societal, technological, and cultural factors contributing to this crisis and suggests ways to foster resilience and mental well-being.
Table of Contents
The Anxious Generation
Summary of 4 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 4
Smartphones are behind a worrying rise in childhood and adolescent mental health issues
In the early 2000s, the mental health landscape among preteens and adolescents appeared relatively stable, with no clear indications of an impending crisis. But the next decade brought about a dramatic shift: mental health issues among Generation Z children and teenagers began to surge at an alarming rate.
To put this phenomenon into perspective, consider the findings of a US National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The data reveals a staggering 145 percent increase in reported cases of depressive episodes among girls since 2012. For boys, the rise is even more pronounced, with a 161 percent increase in reported cases of depressive episodes over the same period. The impact extends beyond self-reported symptoms, with college students receiving a 134 percent increase in anxiety, a 106 percent increase in depression, a 72 percent increase in ADHD, and a 57 percent increase in bipolar disorder diagnoses since 2012. This surge in mental health challenges is, with the exception of some young millennials, largely confined to the Gen Z demographic.
The statistics only begin to scratch the surface. Among girls, there has been a 188 percent increase in emergency room visits for self-harm since 2010, and a 167 percent rise in suicide rates. For boys, the numbers are also alarming, with a 48 percent increase in self-harm-related ER visits and a 91 percent surge in suicide rates.
What accounts for this dramatic shift in the mental health landscape of Gen Z? The answer may lie, in part, with the widespread adoption of smartphones and the corresponding changes in the social fabric of adolescence. Smartphones, first introduced in 2007 and widely adopted by the 2010s, have profoundly influenced the way young people interact, communicate, and engage with the world around them.
Studies have shown that tweens and teens who accessed the internet in the 1990s and early 2000s were, on average, slightly happier during their adolescence than their Gen X predecessors. However, this trend reversed dramatically with the widespread adoption of smartphones, which enabled adolescents to be connected and online constantly, wherever they were. By 2016, 79 percent of teens owned a smartphone, as did 28 percent of children aged 8 to 12. Alarmingly, a 2022 Pew report indicates that 46 percent of teens describe themselves as being online “almost constantly.”
This shift in the social landscape of childhood and adolescence, often referred to as the “Great Rewiring of Childhood,” has had a significant impact on the mental health of Gen Z. As their social lives have increasingly moved online through the constant access to social media, video gaming, and other internet activities, the first generation of teens in the United States to go through adolescence with this level of connectivity has become more anxious, depressed, and suicidal than any generation recorded before them. This troubling trend is not limited to the US; studies across Canada, the UK, and the Nordic states have reported similar findings, suggesting that this is a global phenomenon.
While other factors, such as anxiety surrounding global issues like climate change, may also contribute to the mental health outcomes of Gen Z, the ubiquity of smartphone usage and the corresponding changes in social dynamics appear to be the primary drivers behind this tidal wave of mental illness. As we grapple with the implications of this crisis, it’s clear that a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between technology, social interaction, and adolescent development is needed to develop effective strategies for supporting the mental health of our youth.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Anxious Generation?
Key ideas in The Anxious Generation
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Anxious Generation about?
The Anxious Generation (2024) argues that the decline of play in childhood and the rise of smartphone usage among adolescents are the twin sources of increased mental distress in Generation Z. Grounded in psychological and biological research, this eye-opening text explores how the profound shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods has disrupted adolescent development – and offers practical advice to address this crisis.
The Anxious Generation Review
The Anxious Generation (2022) delves into the complex psychological factors contributing to the rise of anxiety among young people today. Here's why this insightful book stands out:
- Packed with research-backed insights, it sheds light on the driving forces behind the anxious trends and offers practical solutions.
- By exploring the impact of technology, social media, and cultural shifts, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the modern sources of anxiety.
- The book's thought-provoking analysis challenges conventional wisdom, making it a compelling and eye-opening read for anyone navigating the pressures of contemporary society.
Who should read The Anxious Generation?
- Parents and carers concerned about their children’s smartphone use
- Educators and psychologists perturbed by increased rates of mental illness among Gen Zers
- Anyone addicted to their smartphone
Categories with The Anxious Generation
Book summaries like The Anxious Generation
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Anxious Generation FAQs
What is the main message of The Anxious Generation?
The main message of The Anxious Generation explores the rise of anxiety among young adults in the modern world.
How long does it take to read The Anxious Generation?
Reading The Anxious Generation takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Anxious Generation a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Anxious Generation offers insights into the challenges faced by today's youth, making it a valuable read for understanding societal anxieties.
Who is the author of The Anxious Generation?
The author of The Anxious Generation is Jonathan Haidt.
What to read after The Anxious Generation?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Anxious Generation, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Agile Selling by Jill Konrath
- Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
- The Hunger Habit by Judson Brewer
- Remote Work Revolution by Tsedal Neeley
- Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg
- The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- Uncommon by Mark Divine
- Learned Excellence by Eric Potterat & Alan Eagle
- The Education of Millionaires by Michael Ellsberg