Technology used to serve the purpose of human flourishing. No one would sit here and argue for example that the wheel was not a great invention, or any one of the “simple machines” or the written word. The combustion engine, airplanes, and ships have made travel easier than ever before in the history of mankind.
It’s crazy to think about the fact that for me, growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s, getting to use the computer lab at school was a rare privilege! I went back to college for some classes in my late 20s and couldn’t believe how much things had already changed — I was the only student that didn’t take their notes on a laptop.
My daughter is only 18 months old but my husband and I talk about how we’re going to approach technology with her all of the time. We both work in tech, so it’s not like we can (or want to) become luddites. But I’m seeing how this next generation is already being affected and I refuse to participate.
If you're not yet familiar with Jonathan Haidt's work, please go scroll through his substack called After Babel. Keep your kids off social media until at least post-adolescence. That's a bright line and it must not be crossed.
We've got a dilemma that goes directly to the heart of putting all on the line in your mind. The rhyme and reason for expression is yes an attempt to perfect your heart, perfect your soul, to share yourself under your own points of view, your conception of what life is and how you were conceived. Then you get a name and the paper trial for you as an American begins. That I think is inherently a very good thing and please take some comfort Ms. Worlow and see the sense of humor in the world that draws us together for better or worse.
For anyone reading this and who may want more information on the subject - particularly youth mental illness related to social media - please check out Jonathan Haidt's substack called After Babel, and Jean Twenge's substack called Generation Tech. Both have loads of easily consumable data substantiating this.
It’s crazy to think about the fact that for me, growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s, getting to use the computer lab at school was a rare privilege! I went back to college for some classes in my late 20s and couldn’t believe how much things had already changed — I was the only student that didn’t take their notes on a laptop.
My daughter is only 18 months old but my husband and I talk about how we’re going to approach technology with her all of the time. We both work in tech, so it’s not like we can (or want to) become luddites. But I’m seeing how this next generation is already being affected and I refuse to participate.
If you're not yet familiar with Jonathan Haidt's work, please go scroll through his substack called After Babel. Keep your kids off social media until at least post-adolescence. That's a bright line and it must not be crossed.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check that out.
A generation of anti social people as well .
We've got a dilemma that goes directly to the heart of putting all on the line in your mind. The rhyme and reason for expression is yes an attempt to perfect your heart, perfect your soul, to share yourself under your own points of view, your conception of what life is and how you were conceived. Then you get a name and the paper trial for you as an American begins. That I think is inherently a very good thing and please take some comfort Ms. Worlow and see the sense of humor in the world that draws us together for better or worse.
Outstanding piece, Audra.
For anyone reading this and who may want more information on the subject - particularly youth mental illness related to social media - please check out Jonathan Haidt's substack called After Babel, and Jean Twenge's substack called Generation Tech. Both have loads of easily consumable data substantiating this.