Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Originally published on July 17, 2024.
Is everything going to hell in a handcart because of smartphones and social media? In this episode, I sit down with NYU professor and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt to tackle this burning question.
Dr. Haidt makes a compelling case that our addiction to these devices is wreaking havoc on society, from mental health crises to political turmoil. But is it really all the smartphone’s fault? I'm not so sure it's quite that simple, so I wanted to dive deeper into the nuances.
We get into the nitty-gritty and I challenge some of Haidt’s claims, exploring questions like, why do these issues seem to hit the English-speaking world the hardest? Is this another moral panic, or is this time really different? We also discuss the differences in how smartphones affect various demographics and cultures, and why understanding these distinctions is crucial. Plus, we explore Jonathan’s practical and highly sensible recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a die-hard believer, this episode will make you rethink your relationship with the technology in our pockets.
Let's do this.
Sign up for Your Next Breakthrough, a weekly newsletter that will make you a less awful person: markmanson.net/breakthrough
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Originally published on July 17, 2024.
Is everything going to hell in a handcart because of smartphones and social media? In this episode, I sit down with NYU professor and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt to tackle this burning question.
Dr. Haidt makes a compelling case that our addiction to these devices is wreaking havoc on society, from mental health crises to political turmoil. But is it really all the smartphone’s fault? I'm not so sure it's quite that simple, so I wanted to dive deeper into the nuances.
We get into the nitty-gritty and I challenge some of Haidt’s claims, exploring questions like, why do these issues seem to hit the English-speaking world the hardest? Is this another moral panic, or is this time really different? We also discuss the differences in how smartphones affect various demographics and cultures, and why understanding these distinctions is crucial. Plus, we explore Jonathan’s practical and highly sensible recommendations for parents, educators, and policymakers.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a die-hard believer, this episode will make you rethink your relationship with the technology in our pockets.
Let's do this.
Sign up for Your Next Breakthrough, a weekly newsletter that will make you a less awful person: markmanson.net/breakthrough
instagram.com/markmanson
twitter.com/IAmMarkManson
facebook.com/Markmansonnet
linkedin.com/in/markmanson
tiktok.com/@iammarkmanson
