Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?

Psychology professor at San Diego State University, Jean M Twenge, Ph.D., has been studying generational differences for twenty five years. This article, which appears in the September 2017 issue of The Atlantic, is both engaging and alarming reading. She writes:

“the twin rise of the smartphone and social media has caused an earthquake of a magnitude we’ve not seen in a very long time, if ever. 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”

and

“Girls have also borne the brunt of the rise in depressive symptoms among today’s teens. Boys’ depressive symptoms increased by 21 percent from 2012 to 2015, while girls’ increased by 50 percent—more than twice as much. The rise in suicide, too, is more pronounced among girls. Although the rate increased for both sexes, three times as many 12-to-14-year-old girls killed themselves in 2015 as in 2007”

You can read the article here. If you'd like a brief summary of the generations and their 'Gen' names, click here.

Thanks to my friend James for bringing this excellent article to my attention.The article is adapted from Twenge’s book, iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.