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Haidt Reports Older Gen Z Overwhelmingly Say Social Media Harmed Childhood

The Checkup with Doctor Mike · An Honest Conversation About Looksmaxxing | Jonathan Haidt · June 24, 2026
Haidt Reports Older Gen Z Overwhelmingly Say Social Media Harmed Childhood
The Checkup with Doctor Mike
The Checkup with Doctor Mike
An Honest Conversation About Looksmaxxing | Jonathan Haidt
"I always say, okay, members of Gen Z, raise your hand if you were born after 1995. Did I largely get this right or wrong? In all the time I've done it, maybe 3 hands have gone up to say wrong. They know that this is bad for them."
Jonathan Haidt revealed that when speaking at universities and high schools, he consistently asks Gen Z members whether his negative portrayal of social media's impact is accurate, and in all his appearances, only about three people have disagreed. He emphasized that older Gen Z adults now turning 30 express wistfulness and regret about spending their childhoods on screens instead of building real relationships.
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The Checkup with Doctor Mike
The Checkup with Doctor Mike

An Honest Conversation About Looksmaxxing | Jonathan Haidt

August 3, 2026 · 5 Egleze moments
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