This week we're covering chapter four from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, "Puberty and the Blocked Transition to Adulthood." This chapter explores how the shift to a phone-based childhood disrupts the critical developmental transitions of puberty, delaying adolescents' progression toward adulthood. Haidt argues that the over-reliance on smartphones and social media reduces real-world experiences, limiting opportunities for risk-taking, independence, and identity formation essential during puberty. Haidt highlights how digital immersion replaces physical and social activities, leading to a "blocked transition" where teens remain in a prolonged state of dependency rather than developing adult-like responsibilities. He points to data showing declines in milestones like getting a driver’s license or entering the workforce, with 60% fewer teens working part-time jobs compared to previous generations. The chapter also discusses how social media’s curated environments amplify self-consciousness and social comparison, particularly for girls, exacerbating anxiety and hindering self-esteem development. Haidt emphasizes that this rewiring of adolescence by technology creates a generation less equipped for the challenges of adulthood. If you want to join the discussion, please click here to join our online book club community! Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month. You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app . View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here . If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us! Join the discussion on instagram @slp_bookclub . Find us on TikTok @theslpbookclub . A lot of the resources mentioned in the podcast are free to download in the Laura G SLP store on TPT, find them here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
