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In an article published in The Atlantic in September 2017, psychologist and researcher Jean Twenge delved into the impact of digital technology on the generation of young people, dubbed iGen, who haven’t known life without electronic tablets and smartphones.
Twenge notes that, since the release of the iPhone in 2007, teens are
- hanging out with friends less;
- less eager to start driving;
- dating less, more likely to feel lonely; and
- less likely to get enough sleep.
Excerpts from “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”
There is compelling evidence that the devices we’ve placed in young people’s hands are having profound effects on their lives—and making them seriously unhappy.
The arrival of the smartphone has radically changed every aspect of teenagers’ lives, from the nature of their social interactions to their mental health.
“I think we like our phones more than we like actual people.”
- Athena, 11-year-old interview subject
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Rates of teen depression and suicide have skyrocketed since 2011. It’s not an exaggeration to describe iGen as being on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades. Much of this deterioration can be traced to their phones.
Across a range of behaviours — drinking, dating, spending time unsupervised — 18-year-olds now act more like 15-year-olds used to, and 15-year-olds act more like 13-year-olds. Childhood now stretches well into high school.
Teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy, and those who spend more time than average on nonscreen activities are more likely to be happy.
[Teens] who spend an above-average amount of time with their friends in person are 20 per cent less likely to say they’re unhappy than those who hang out for a below-average amount of time.
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Read the full article at www.theatlantic.com.
