Are we using screens as a scapegoat for teen mental health?
6/26/202650 min
For years, we’ve heard that social media is fueling a teen mental health crisis. But the evidence is more complicated. Developmental psychologist Candice Odgers unpacks what the research actually says—and where parents, policymakers, and the media often get it wrong.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Manoush Zomorodi· Host0:14
This [chime] is the TED Radio Hour. [gentle music] Each week, groundbreaking TED Talks- Our job now is to dream big ... delivered at TED Conferences- To bring about the future we want to see ... around the world.
Candice Odgers· Guest0:27
To understand who we are From those talks, we bring you speakers and ideas that will surprise you- You just don't know what you're gonna find ...
Manoush Zomorodi· Host0:36
challenge you- We truly have to ask ourself, like, why is it noteworthy? ... and even change you. I literally feel like I'm a different person. [laughs] Yes. Do you feel that way? Ideas worth spreading. From TED and NPR. I'm Manoush Zomorodi. Today, we are talking about the relationship between kids, screens, and social media. Sound familiar? Yeah, it's a topic we have covered on the show before, and it's fraught. Most of us have heard how harmful tech can be for kids and their mental health. The anxiety levels are through the roof. The mental health issues are through the roof. Are we just gonna sit by and watch that happen, or are we gonna act? In response, many states in the US have passed laws banning cell phones in schools. These devices have no place in a formal education process. Vote yes- Some countries are banning teens