Jonathan Haidt Brings New Evidence to the Battle Against Social Media
The author of 'The Anxious Generation' shares his latest research about the harms social media is doing to children.
www.nytimes.comHere’s the latest on Jonathan Haidt based on recent public reporting:
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Jonathan Haidt has been in the spotlight for his ongoing research on the effects of smartphones and social media on youth mental health. A notable piece from January 16, 2026, discusses new evidence he and colleagues claim to have found linking social media use to anxiety, depression, and other harms among teenagers, along with discussions about related policy and advocacy implications.[1]
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He has been interviewed in media environments that explore the broader impact of his work, including appearances tied to his book The Anxious Generation and subsequent advocacy efforts around digital-media regulation for minors.[2]
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For context, Haidt is a prominent social psychologist known for The Anxious Generation (2024) and The Righteous Mind (2012), with his recent work continuing to frame debates about youth mental health, technology, and policy.[3]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest full articles or summarize key points from specific outlets (e.g., NYT, major podcasts) and provide a quick after-action note on the policy debates surrounding his work. Also, I can track developments through a brief, up-to-date digest twice a week if you want ongoing coverage.
Would you like a concise, sourced summary from the most recent pieces, or a comparison of Haidt’s positions with counterarguments from other experts?
Citations:
- Haidt latest reporting on social media and youth mental health (Jan 2026)[1]
- Related media appearances and discussions around his advocacy (Jan 2026)[2]
- Background on Haidt’s books and scholarly focus (overview)[3]