Natural Experiments Show Psychiatric Admissions Rose When High Speed Internet Arrived
"What happens when high-speed internet came into different areas in late 2000s and early 2010s? There are 9 or 10 studies now that looked at that, at the staggered rollout. When it came in, in the years after that, you get an increase in psychiatric admissions, especially for girls, girls and young women."
About this episode
On this episode of The Checkup Podcast, host Dr. Mike interviewed renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the devastating impact of social media and digital technology on adolescent development, particularly focusing on boys struggling with body image issues and the manosphere. Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation and The Amazing Generation, argued that the phone-based childhood emerging after 2012 has caused a generational decline in human potential unprecedented in modern history. He revealed explosive internal evidence showing tech companies deliberately used the word addiction until a 2019 Meta memo banned the term, and disclosed that Meta maintained a 17 strikes policy before removing sexual predators. Haidt presented multiple lines of causality evidence including randomized controlled trials, natural experiments tracking psychiatric admissions after high-speed internet rollout, and testimony from Gen Z members themselves who overwhelmingly confirm the harms. The conversation expanded into class divides, with Haidt warning that wealthy families are increasingly protecting their children from digital harms while working-class kids suffer disproportionately. Despite the dark subject matter, Haidt expressed optimism about recent progress including phone-free schools spreading nationwide, states raising social media age limits to 16, and grassroots movements led by mothers demanding change. He called for analog schools through elementary years, warned that AI threatens to eliminate the friction necessary for human development, and argued the technology is dehumanizing society by replacing real relationships with shallow digital connections. The episode concluded with Haidt urging parents to protect brain development during childhood rather than pushing early digital adoption.
Key takeaways
- Haidt revealed internal Meta documents show companies used the word addiction until a 2019 memo banned it to avoid legal liability in lawsuits from thousands of parents.
- Meta maintained a 17 strikes policy before removing users involved in sexual trafficking according to a former employee cited by Haidt.
- Natural experiment studies across multiple countries found psychiatric admissions increased among girls and young women in years following high-speed internet arrival in their regions.
- When Haidt polls Gen Z audiences at universities about whether his negative portrayal is accurate only about three people total across all appearances have disagreed.
- Haidt warned of a growing class divide where wealthy families protect children from digital harms while working-class kids suffer disproportionately higher screen time and worse outcomes.
- Phone-free schools have spread rapidly across red and blue states with teachers reporting more laughter in hallways and increased student attentiveness.
- Haidt called for analog schools eliminating one-to-one devices through elementary years arguing children need friction to develop thinking skills before AI removes that necessity.