One year later...
One year after the publication of The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt’s pivotal book has sparked a national discussion about technology and childhood. To commemorate its publication, Jonathan made his talk for parents and teachers available to everyone. If you haven’t read the book, this talk is a great way to digest his message and see the data for yourself (sign up required).
As a quick refresher, he proposes 4 norms that we can adopt to help our children better navigate childhood today:
Norm 1: No Smartphones Before High School (or Age 14)
Norm 2: No Social Media Before 16
Norm 3: Phone-Free Schools
Norm 4: More Independence, Free Play, and Responsibility in the Real World
Additionally, Jonathan spoke with The Free Press about Taking Back Childhood from Phones and had a wide ranging conversation with Ezra Klein which touched on everything from ipads to AI.
In our own community, it has also been one year since New Canaan Unplugged launched. Over the last 12 months we've been fortunate to connect with hundreds of families and individuals interested in having a healthier relationship with technology. From Book Club conversations at Elm Street Books to resource tables at School events and even at the annual Sidewalk Sale, every conversation has informed our mission:
New Canaan Unplugged was founded to create conversations around healthier technology use and be a resource for families seeking to make smarter digital choices throughout childhood.
We are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to speak with us, share your experiences and teach us about the technology decisions you are making for your family. We are excited to continue these conversations in the coming weeks:
On April 24 at 9:30am, we will have a table at the PTC/Saxe Serves meeting, hosted at Saxe Middle School.
And on April 25 at 10:30 am we will have our next in-person meet up. More details to come!
Articles Worth Your Time
Adolescence, a disturbing new series on Netflix, has started a global conversation around youth violence and social media. Actor Stephen Graham, who stars in the series and co-created it, spoke with NPR about how he was inspired to create this show. Click HERE to read.
For anyone interested in switching to a "dumbphone", this opinion piece in the New York Times from a 29 year old Anti-Tech activist provides some perspective. Click HERE to read (subscription may be required)
Parents who work in technology are encouraging their children to explore careers in the humanities, arts or skilled trades as these fields may be more resistant to Artificial Intelligence. Click HERE to read (subscription may be required)
Help New Canaan Unplug
If you are interested in creating a healthier relationship with technology for our children, please check out our survey HERE to let us know how you can help.
New Canaan Unplugged is a parent-run group completely independent from the New Canaan Public School System and the Town of New Canaan.
