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I would love to chat with you about this, as I have recently been presenting on this matter quite frequently to elementary, middle, and high schools in my local area. My efforts are strongly informed by the work of Jonathan Haidt, Jean Twenge, and Zach Rausch, along with an outstanding TEDx Talk by Kathryn Bouskill. Shoot me an email if you'd like and we can set up a time to discuss: jake@zephyrwellness.org.

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Will do Jake. And vice-versa - ZepharethLedbetter@gmail.com

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The root of the problem is in the design of the tool. My partners youngest sister is just turned 18, and she absolutely can not take her attention away from her phone for more than 30 seconds. We run a farm, and the times that we've required her to do chores, that need her to put down the phone, are the times she becomes very erratic, and "rebellious", refusing to do any work passed an hour of labour without having a "break". She straight up behaves like an addict jonesing for another hit. Consumerism has allowed this technology to develop tools for enforcing/training habit forming behaviour, and I think its already too late for the younger generations without massive regulatory reform. Which we all know just gives big government an excuse to tighten its grip on everyone.

All we can do is watch, and try to steer those closest to us away from the lies and addictions of a hyperconnected world.

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Very true, Brody, and it carries over to so many other aspects of their lives. I've covered this from some different angles in other articles - please check them out on my SubStack if you're interested. Appreciate your response. ZL

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I freely admit that, as I’m in my 7th decade, I’m a tech baby & I so worry about my grandsons growing up now.

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I agree. My sons are adults, but we raise young niece & nephews now and the concern is palpable. Thanks for your input, Liz. ZL

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