Anxiety disorders affect Gen Z at astronomically higher rates than previous generations. There's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world. But the reason behind Gen Z's mental health crisis might be simpler than you'd think.

According to social psychologist and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt, the answer lies in growing up with a combination of smartphones and social media. In his new book The Anxious Generation, he argues that Gen Z's anxiety is a symptom of being the first generation to go through puberty on Instagram and TikTok, with iPhones available to access them constantly.

Thankfully, Jonathan believes the problem is solvable. He shares some advice he has for concerned parents and tells me how we can fix the mental health crisis affecting our kids in just a few years' time.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

To learn more about Jonathan's work, check out:
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/
https://jonathanhaidt.com/

And for parents, visit:
https://letgrow.org/

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 The Impact of Social Media on Moral Discourse
1:22 Expressing vs. Convincing
2:18 The Role of Social Media in Polarization
3:47 Youth, Social Media, and Mental Health
4:59 Solutions for Youth and Democracy
7:19 Personal Anecdotes and Observations
11:36 The Anxious Generation and the Future of Democracy
17:12 Millennials vs. Gen Z: Social and Psychological Differences
22:10 The Paradox of Democracy and Technology
25:14 The Power of Collective Action
31:42 Restoring Humanity: From Childhood to Congress
39:22 Hope for Change and Personal Reflections

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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

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Simon’s books:
The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infi...
Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-wi...
Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-you...
Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-...
Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together...

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#SimonSinek