Cell Phone and Social Media Addiction (UPPER DUBLIN LIBRARY)

How dangerous are cell phones and social media to children, teens, and adults? Research by social scientists suggests many people of all ages are too dependent on personal digital devices. Cell phones are being blamed for increases in anxiety, depression, loneliness – even suicides.

Many of us inadvertently give up privacy for instant access to information, entertainment, or social connection. Some results may be vulnerability to fraud, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and psychological abuse. Critics say we are being intentionally manipulated by smart machines and algorithms to keep us “engaged.” The longer we stay online, the more ads we see. Users are not the customers of social media platforms; advertisers are. They pay for our attention, as measured by “clicks” and “eyeballs.”

Jonathan Haidt, NYU professor of social psychology is the author of the best-selling book “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.” Haidt has been warning for years about the harmful effects of social media and cell phones, especially on children and teenagers. He recently talked about his work to a live New York City audience sponsored by The Free Press. The program, “Social Media Is Killing Our Kids. Jonathan Haidt Has the Solution.” is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-LYki9pABw. (It runs about 75 minutes.)

For some background on how cell phone and social media addiction works, watch this CBS 60-Minutes episode hosted by Anderson Cooper: “What Is ‘Brain Hacking’? Tech Insiders On Why You Should Care.” It is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/awAMTQZmvPE (Broadcast in 2017; it runs about 14 minutes.)

Some questions to consider:

• Should cell phones be banned in public schools?
• At what age should children be allowed to have cell phones?
• Should social media platforms be held liable for harm caused by malicious user content?
• Are you too dependent on your cell phone or social media?