Is social media driving teen mental health issues? | The Vergecast

The mental health of teenagers has been a growing concern for parents, policymakers, and educators since 2010. While social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his New York Times bestseller "The Anxious Generation," points to smartphones and social media as the primary culprits, Boston College psychology research professor Peter Gray offers a compelling counter-narrative in his new book, "Restoring Childhood." Gray argues that nationwide education standards, implemented through the Common Core curriculum, coupled with increased pressure on kids to excel in academics and sports for college admissions, are the real drivers of this decline. He also suggests that the adoption of the internet in the 1990s and 2000s may have actually contributed to a decline in teen suicide rates during that period.

The Shifting Landscape of Teen Mental Health

To understand the current crisis, it's crucial to look at historical trends in teen mental health. Suicide rates for teenagers, a consistent measure over time, saw a steady and significant increase (about a four-fold rise) between 1950 and 1990. While consistent measures of anxiety and depression are harder to track over the same period, available data suggests a similar upward trend, with some estimates indicating a five to ten-fold increase in major depressive disorder or clinically significant anxiety disorder. This period, from the 1950s to the 1990s, was marked by a series of societal changes that progressively restricted children's freedom to play and explore independently of adult supervision. Gray argues that this independent play is crucial for developing mental health, as it allows young people to learn agency and an internal locus of control, essential for navigating life's challenges. Depriving children of these opportunities not only removes an immediate source of happiness but also hinders their ability to take control of their own lives, leading to increased anxiety and depression.