Explain one of Haidt's sub-claims in the book (e.g., social media harms teen and pre-teen girls development, leading to higher levels of depression and anxiety). How does Haidt frame the claim rhetorically? What research does he provide to support the claim? What research contradicts his claim? Overall, does Haidt's argument stand up to scrutiny? 1. Answer the following questions: a. How well does the author explain/understand Haidt's theory? Where do they need more explanation? Are there any areas that are inaccurate, regarding Haidt? Are there any clear biases for/against Haidt that should be removed? b. How thoroughly does the author examine Haidt's research? Where could the author use more? Where could the author use less? Does the author spend enough time explaining HOW the research works/does not work to support Haidt's theory? c. How thoroughly does the author research the topic on their own? Is the research credible? Does the research respond directly to Haidt's theory? Does the author spend enough time explaining the relationship between it and Haidt? Is the interpretation of the research thorough? 7 pages long, no formal words, use simple terms, doesn’t need to be longer than 7 pages. Be specific and follow the exact prompt.
Anxious generation
Sample Answer
📱 The Great Rewiring: Social Media and Teen Girls' Mental Health
One of the central and most attention-grabbing claims made by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt in his book The Anxious Generation is that the shift to a "phone-based childhood" starting around 2010 has directly caused a severe and sudden decline in mental health, especially among teen and pre-teen girls, leading to skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm.
How Haidt Frames the Claim Rhetorically
Haidt doesn't just present data; he uses powerful language and metaphors to frame the issue as a moral and societal catastrophe. His rhetoric is designed to shock the reader and demand urgent action.
The "Great Rewiring": He frames the shift (around 2010-2015) when smartphones became common and social media became the primary social world as the "Great Rewiring of Childhood." This term suggests a fundamental, biological change, implying that children's brains have been permanently altered in a dangerous way.
The "Uncontrolled Experiment": Haidt often says that giving young people smartphones and social media access was "the largest uncontrolled experiment humanity has ever performed on its own children." This dramatic phrasing likens the tech companies to reckless scientists and the children to unwilling test subjects, invoking a sense of guilt and emergency.
The Gender Divide: He is specific about the disproportionate harm to girls, often using statistics that show rates of depression and self-harm increasing faster for girls than for boys. By focusing on girls during their early puberty (ages 11-13), he highlights a particularly vulnerable developmental window, making the claim emotionally resonant.
The Contrast of Protection: Haidt uses the rhetorical strategy of paradox, noting that parents have become "overprotective in the real world" (reducing free play and independence) while simultaneously being "underprotective in the virtual world" (giving unsupervised access to addictive platforms). This contrast effectively blames both modern parenting styles and tech companies for creating a "hostile environment for human development."