The Crisis of the Anxious Generation – An Analysis of the Best-Seller Reflecting on the Role of Nature in Preventing Mental Disorders

In the last decade, the world has witnessed a significant increase in mental disorders among children and adolescents. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, and even suicide have become an increasingly common reality among young people. In the book The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt suggests that this reality is correlated with the replacement of free play by digital hyperconnectivity.

Here at Gear Tips, Pedro Lacaz wrote an analysis of the book “Last Child in the Woods”, presenting the concept of Nature Deficit Disorder, where Richard Louv names the growing disconnection between children and nature. By drawing attention to this phenomenon, the author argues that interaction with natural resources is essential for child development and presents a series of measures to ensure the presence of play in nature during childhood.

Following the same line of thought, Haidt points out that the evolution of digital technologies has significantly altered the characteristics of social interaction. Hyperconnectivity has become a part of daily life, especially among younger generations, with the excessive use of smartphones and social media. As a consequence, the social and neurological development of young people has been affected, particularly in terms of sleep deprivation, the development of screen addictions, and attention fragmentation.

The book The Anxious Generation quickly became a best-seller. Indeed, the alarming narrative about the impact of digital technologies on child development is a topic of great interest to educators, both in family and school environments. The author bases his arguments on various scientific studies that correlate data. However, sociologists such as Candice Odgers argue that Haidt’s data analysis is flawed, claiming that it is not possible to infer that social media is causing an epidemic of mental disorders.

In this article, rather than debating the scientific validity of the data, we will explore how childhood has been reconfigured by these devices. We also offer practical solutions to help families and educators reconnect children with nature and other kids, creating a healthier environment for emotional and cognitive development.

The Impact of Smartphones on Childhood

Life has undergone a radical transformation with the advent of smartphones. In general, many changes have been positive. Bank queues have been avoided, communication with loved ones far away has been facilitated, and access to multiple sources of information has become instant. However, the emergence of the front camera and social media has brought our real lives closer to the “Matrix” reality in a surprising way.

In a recent study, as I mentioned in my previous article, many adults admit that they spend a significant portion of their day on their smartphones and claim that one of the most positive aspects of family adventures in nature is the opportunity to disconnect. In other words, setting the phone aside and focusing on the present moment, often paying more attention to the people around them.

Similar to our findings, a report from the Pew Research Center indicates that two-thirds of parents say that, due to the information overload brought by technologies, raising children today is more difficult than it was 20 years ago. Most state that smartphones interfere with quality time with their children. Approximately 68% say they feel distracted sometimes, and 17% frequently.

If this new lifestyle already negatively impacts adults, the effects on children are even more concerning. In this sense, The Anxious Generation shares several interesting concepts and reflections on childhood. One of the parts that caught my attention the most refers to the fact that children are programmed to connect with other children through the tuning and synchronization of their movements and emotions.

Child development depends on outdoor play, which provides challenging and socially enriching experiences—something that does not happen in the virtual world. Studies indicate that playing freely, especially in activities involving calculated risks, strengthens emotional connections between children and contributes to cognitive and social development. This period of intense social learning is particularly sensitive between the ages of 9 and 15 when children need real interactions to mature.

Another interesting concept presented by Haidt is antifragility, from Nassim Taleb, which reinforces the idea that human beings benefit from exposure to challenges and uncertainties. An interesting example is the immune system. Children raised in a bubble of cleanliness do not develop it properly. In other words, an overprotected childhood, without risk experiences, may minimize learning opportunities for facing difficulties, dealing with the unknown, and making autonomous decisions.

This post is also available in: Português (Portuguese (Brazil)) Español (Spanish)