Our children’s mental health is in crisis, and technology might be the silent culprit. But here’s where it gets controversial: is it really as simple as blaming social media, or are we missing a bigger picture? In a thought-provoking conversation on The Interview, Amol Rajan sits down with Jonathan Haidt, the American social psychologist whose 2024 book The Anxious Generation ignited a fiery debate. Haidt argues that the surge in mental health issues among young people can be directly linked to the way technology has reshaped childhood. Yet, social media giants push back, claiming this view oversimplifies a far more complex problem. And this is the part most people miss: Haidt now warns we’re at a tipping point, with nations increasingly moving toward stricter regulations on children’s social media use. Could this be the turning point we need, or are we addressing the symptom rather than the root cause? The Interview doesn’t just stop at Haidt—it brings you global conversations with changemakers like Microsoft AI leader Mustafa Suleyman and Annika Wells, the Australian minister behind the under-16s social media ban. Tune in on BBC World Service Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 0800 GMT, or catch the podcast three times a week on BBC Sounds or your favorite platform. Here’s a question to ponder: Is regulating technology enough to safeguard our children’s future, or do we need a deeper cultural shift? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation we can’t afford to ignore. (Image: Jonathan Haidt Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)
