Teen mental health cratered right around 2012, the same moment smartphones and social media took over kids’ lives. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, loneliness and suicide all climbed sharply, with girls hit the hardest. Within a decade, the share of teen girls reporting a major depressive episode had nearly doubled, and hospitals saw a surge in emergency room visits tied to self-harm.
Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” lays out the data, and a number of helpful books like Clare Morell’s “The Tech Exit” are assisting parents in their fight against big tech and advanced technology.
Judges and juries across our nation are recognizing the harm caused by big tech as well. A few weeks ago, Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, agreed to a $17 billion settlement with more than 45 state attorneys general, promising to take steps to avoid addicting kids to its platforms. South Dakota will be receiving over $50 million as a part of this settlement.
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