Bonus Podcast: Jonathan Haidt and Dr. Dave Anderson on Kids, Tech, & Mental Health

In this special episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt for a live conversation on how smartphones and social media are transforming childhood — and what parents, schools, and policymakers can do in response.


Recorded at Guild Hall in East Hampton, this discussion dives into the big questions raised in Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation — and the points where he and Dr. Anderson see things differently.


They talk candidly about screen time, youth anxiety, social media “addiction,” digital literacy, tech regulation, and why we’re seeing such sharp mental health shifts in teens and tweens.


Whether you’re alarmed by what you see on your kid’s phone or just looking for practical next steps, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and room for multiple perspectives.


Topics include:
– The “post-play childhood” and decline in free time
– When (and if) kids should be using social media
– Why phones in schools are so hard to manage
– Where tech harms hit boys vs. girls differently
– What parents can do now — even if the genie’s already out of the bottle


Resources
– Learn more about The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: jonathanhaidt.com
– Explore the Child Mind Institute’s Screen Time & Technology resources: childmind.org/topics/screen-time-technology


Learn how to help kids use screens in a healthy way.
Special thanks to Guild Hall and the Hamptons Institute for hosting this event, and to journalist and filmmaker Perri Peltz for moderating with insight and care.


Om Podcasten

Thriving Kids is a podcast for parents and caregivers who want clear, honest answers about child and adolescent mental health. Hosted by Dr. Dave Anderson, clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, each episode tackles a common parenting challenge — from anxiety to tantrums to school struggles — with practical strategies backed by science. You’ll hear real talk, expert advice, and compassionate guidance from clinicians who work with kids every day. New episodes every other week, with companion newsletters for easy reference.