How cell phones are killing our kids, and what we can do about it | CNN

Jonathan Haidt Calls for Revolution in Smartphone Use for Teens

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Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt probably has become a pretty unpopular guy among teenagers over the last few weeks.

His new book, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” essentially calls for a revolution in how parents administer smartphones and social media to their teens.

Put simply, Haidt writes that kids should have little to no access to either until they turn 16.

While some have questioned the science behind Haidt’s thesis, Haidt argues the perspective is informed by years of research — investigations that depict climbing mental health struggles among American tweens and teens, and statistics that indicate many teenagers in the United States already are depressed or anxious in some way.

The American Psychological Association echoed his concern in a new report that calls out social media platforms for designs that are “inherently unsafe for children.” The APA’s report, released Tuesday, says that children do not have “the experience, judgment and self-control” to manage themselves on those platforms. The association says burden shouldn’t be entirely on parents, app stores or young people — it has to be on the platform developers.

But

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article are related to mental health struggles among teenagers, the impact of smartphones and social media on their well-being, and the need for appropriate regulation and protection. These issues align with various SDGs that aim to promote health, education, gender equality, economic growth, reduced inequalities, safe communities, and strong institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
• Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Based on the article’s content, these targets are relevant to addressing the mental health crisis among teenagers, promoting their well-being, ensuring equal opportunities and protection for all genders, providing relevant skills for employment, and creating safe and inclusive environments.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to mental disorders
• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
• Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex
• Indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment, or training
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age group, sex, and persons with disabilities
• Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age, and persons with disabilities
• Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation

These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by tracking mortality rates attributed to mental disorders, the proportion of individuals with ICT skills, the existence of legal frameworks promoting gender equality, the proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training, income inequality, availability of public spaces, and the prevalence of human trafficking.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators