{"id":93922,"date":"2026-02-19T00:11:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T03:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/893592099"},"modified":"2026-02-19T00:11:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T03:11:04","slug":"new-book-encourages-kids-to-break-free-from-addictive-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/19\/new-book-encourages-kids-to-break-free-from-addictive-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"New Book Encourages Kids to Break Free from Addictive Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As technology continues to permeate people\u2019s daily lives, parents are growing rightfully concerned about its impact on the well-being of their children. To help guide both parents and kids, author Jonathan Haidt recently released \u201cThe Amazing Generation,\u201d an easy-to-read, graphic novel-style book about how to avoid falling prey to the addictive nature of \u201cscreens.\u201d<\/p> <p>Co-authored with Catherine Price, \u201cThe Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World\u201d presents important information in positive, child-friendly ways, describing kids as \u201crebels\u201d against the potential perils of smartphones and social media.<\/p> <p>The book illustrates Big Tech corporate leaders as \u201cgreedy wizards\u201d who trick people into \u201ccarrying their stones [e.g., smartphones, tablets] with them everywhere \u2026 and gazing into them all day \u2026 because [the wizards] figured out how to turn human energy into gold [i.e., profits].&nbsp;<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-1 \"><aside id=\"block-32\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\"> <\/aside><aside id=\"block-35\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\">aside.scaip-1 .wpnbha.image-alignleft.is-1 .post-thumbnail,aside.scaip-1 .wpnbha.image-alignright.is-1 .post-thumbnail{flex-basis: 12%;}aside.scaip-1 .wpnbha.image-alignleft.is-1 .entry-wrapper,aside.scaip-1 .wpnbha.image-alignright.is-1 .entry-wrapper{flex-basis: 88%;}aside.scaip-1 .wpnbha article{margin-bottom: .5rem;}<\/aside><aside id=\"block-137\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\"><\/aside><aside id=\"block-142\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\">\n<\/aside><aside id=\"block-175\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\">\n<\/aside><aside id=\"block-179\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\">\n<\/aside><aside id=\"block-181\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\"><div class=\"a-single a-210\"><a class=\"gofollow\" data-track=\"MjEwLDAsNjA=\" href=\"https:\/\/app.ribbon.giving\/campaigns\/camp_LrUYRtHKabiC8g7j\"><img data-opt-id=1951603662  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sanfernandosun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BANNER-AD-FOR-DONOR-CAMPAIGN.gif?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/aside><\/aside> <p>\u201cIn a lot of ways, technology does make life better,\u201d the book states in the introduction. \u201cBut along the way, some of the leaders of these companies began to care more about making money than anything else.\u201d<\/p> <p><strong>Tech Wizards\u2019 False Promises<\/strong><\/p> <p>Big Tech lures people \u2013 especially younger people \u2013 with false promises that their products offer \u201cfriendship, freedom and fun.\u201d In reality, excessive usage often results in feeling trapped, loneliness and depression.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-2 \"><aside id=\"block-38\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\"><aside> <\/aside>\n<\/aside><aside id=\"block-146\" class=\"widget_block clearfix\">\n<\/aside><\/aside> <p>Studies show that kids who spend five or more hours per day on social media apps are two to three times more likely to feel depressed than those who spend little to no time using social media. In addition, 95% of young adults are so trapped in a cycle of constant smartphone use that they keep their phones close by during nearly all hours of the day and night (including in bed).<\/p> <p>\u201cI fell into the trap of content creation,\u201d wrote 19-year-old Matthew, in one of numerous short real-life testimonies from young people included throughout the book. \u201cWhen we hung out, [my friends and I] would try to record everything instead of just having fun.\u201d<\/p> <p>For others, previous outdoor activities, such as riding bikes with friends or creating plays with siblings, transferred to \u201changing out online,\u201d completely changing how they socialized together.<\/p> <p><strong>Dangers of Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img data-opt-id=981839868  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"780\" height=\"912\" src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:664\/h:777\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sanfernandosun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jonathan-Haidt-Credit-Rob-Holysz-e1771468015708-876x1024.jpg?resize=780%2C912&amp;ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-174201\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jonathan Haidt (Photo Credit\/Rob Holysz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Haidt, a social psychologist and professor at New York University\u2019s Stern School of Business, also wrote \u201cThe Anxious Generation,\u201d which explores the \u201crewiring\u201d of modern-day childhood, which he said has shifted from play-based social interactions to smartphone-based isolation.<\/p> <p>And the world is taking notice, noted Haidt.<\/p> <p>\u201cIn really huge news, Australia put an age limit on social media,\u201d he said. As of this past December, Australia implemented an age limit of 16 for all major social media platforms.<\/p>\n<aside> <\/aside>\n<aside> <\/aside> <p>\u201cThat counts as progress for us \u2013 gigantic progress,\u201d said Haidt. \u201cEven more exciting, as soon as they did it, five or six countries around the world [have responded] \u2026 \u2018Let\u2019s do that [here] too.\u2019\u201d<\/p> <p>In the U.S., there is proposed federal legislation to require parental consent for social media users under 18. The topic has recently been gaining more attention due to the social media trial now underway in Los Angeles.<\/p> <p><strong>Inciting a Rebellion<\/strong><\/p> <p>Readers are encouraged to join the \u201cgrowing rebellion\u201d of young people who are learning how to utilize technology as a tool that helps them as needed, and replace the numerous hours typically lost to scrolling through apps and online interactions with \u201creal friendships, freedom and fun.\u201d<\/p> <p>\u201cI withdrew from my family and real-life friends, choosing to prioritize online friends over everything else,\u201d wrote 19-year-old Mia. \u201cBut the more I felt connected to someone across the country, the less I felt connected to the people right next to me.\u201d<\/p> <p>Young people already deeply immersed in using their smartphones, tablets or online gaming devices can do a \u201crebel reset\u201d by taking a complete break from these screens for three weeks. Why three weeks? Because when people take the plunge and completely stop using apps and devices that were designed to be addictive, they typically feel worse before they feel better.<\/p> <p>Taking a break can initially cause anxiety, moodiness and even trouble sleeping because the brain is adjusting to reduced levels of dopamine and essentially creating \u201cwithdrawal\u201d symptoms. To cope during this challenging period, the authors suggest seeking the support of friends by letting them know what you\u2019re doing and how they can reach you by calling instead of texting. Rebels can also delete the apps or hide the devices they find the most tempting or problematic, and use their newly-acquired free time to meet up with real-life friends or try other screen-free activities.<\/p> <p>\u201cWhen I started reducing my smartphone, social media and gaming use I noticed it opened up a lot of space for new hobbies and [real-life] experiences,\u201d described Saiya, 16.&nbsp;<\/p> <p>\u201cThe best moments happen away from screens,\u201d according to 22-year-old Nick.<\/p> <p><strong>Parents Partnering With Parents<\/strong><\/p> <p>\u201cParents need to understand that these devices and these apps are designed to be addictive, and they are incredibly addictive,\u201d explained Haidt. \u201cIt\u2019s very important to keep your children off of them, and off of social media, at least until the age of 16, and it becomes a lot easier if you\u2019re not doing it alone.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p> <p>Haidt suggested enlisting the help of other families \u2013 specifically the parents and guardians of your child\u2019s friends. Together, the parents can agree to adopt a no smartphone or no technology rule, which they monitor with their kids individually in the home, and when the kids get together.<\/p> <p>\u201cThe key isn\u2019t just to keep them off on social media,\u201d said Haidt. \u201cIt\u2019s to give them back a childhood that\u2019s worth having, a childhood with some fun and independence. If we do that, we save their childhood.\u201d<\/p> <section id=\"block-148\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block\"><\/section><section id=\"block-150\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block\">\n<\/section><section id=\"block-160\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block\">\n<\/section>\t<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; . The book illustrates Big <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> corporate leaders as \u00e2\u0080\u009cgreedy &#8230; anything else.\u00e2\u0080\u009d <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> Wizards\u00e2\u0080\u0099 False Promises Big <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> lures people \u00e2\u0080\u0093 &#8230; socialized together. Dangers of <span class=\"match\">Technology<\/span> Haidt, a social psychologist &#8230; no smartphone or no <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> rule, which they monitor &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93922\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}