Editing The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (section)

=== The Anxiety Epidemic: Unprecedented Levels of Stress ===
Haidt opens by laying out a stark picture of the rise in mental health issues among young people. He cites data showing a significant increase in rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among teenagers and young adults, particularly after 2012. This period marks the time when smartphones and social media began to take over the daily lives of the younger generation. Haidt’s argument is that while mental health struggles have always been part of the human experience, the sheer scale and intensity of anxiety and depression in today's youth is unprecedented.

Haidt's research reveals a troubling trend: young people today report feeling more lonely, isolated, and stressed than previous generations. While some might attribute this to the pressures of modern life, Haidt suggests that the roots of this crisis run much deeper than mere circumstance. It's the result of a combination of environmental, social, and technological forces converging in a perfect storm.