PHOENIX — The lead researcher on a new book tackling the epidemic of anxiety and other mental illnesses in youth believes the key to reversing these trends is spending more time in the real world.
Anxious generation researcher Zach Rausch says the availability of social media in the early 2010s pushed young people further into the world, leaving gaps where none existed before. Stated.
Anxiety and depression rates among undergraduates have increased more than 100% since 2010, according to a study by the American College Health Association.
“Our conclusion is that we have overprotected our children in the real world, but underprotected them online. So these two forces have come together to create this crisis. We really think that there is,” Rausch said. KTAR News 92.3 FM, Bruce and Gaydos speak candidly on tuesday.
Rausch has ideas for how to bring kids back into the real world.
The first is to limit or prohibit the use of social media until the age of 16. A bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which faces legal challenges, would ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds. It was something to do.
“We want kids to have a little bit more autonomy and responsibility back in the real world…that’s really where we learn to grow and develop our abilities,” Rausch said. said.
Because children spend several hours a day, Rausch said the ultimate impact will be the same regardless of gender.
“What we’re really asking is that we can’t grow in a virtual world,” Rausch said. “Boys and girls have been affected differently because developing these skills requires growing up with other people on the planet.
“But in many ways we will be facing the same problems.”
