The author of the global bestseller “The Anxious Generation” welcomed Armenian readers and shared the book’s central message (video)

In “The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt explores how a childhood once centered around play gradually became a childhood centered around phones and screens, and why children today spend more time with smartphones than ever before.

The book has already been translated into numerous languages and is now available in Armenian. On this occasion, Newmag spoke with the author.

“I am very happy that my book is being published in Armenia. Our countries are very different, and childhood looks different in various parts of the world, but during my travels I have noticed one thing: wherever there are parents, children, and smartphones, we face the same problems. Families everywhere are having the same arguments.

We see how addictive apps are taking away our children’s childhood. Across the world, mothers and fathers, especially mothers, are saying: ‘No, we don’t want this kind of childhood for our children.’”

According to Haidt, there is still much work to do, but meaningful change is possible only through collective effort. He believes societies must work together to restore children’s ability to play, explore, and grow in the real world instead of remaining constantly attached to screens.

“I hope that ‘The Anxious Generation’ will help Armenian parents and children as well. The book does not argue that phones are evil. Its central message is that childhood in the real world is wonderful, and we must give it back to our children.”

The author also expressed his gratitude to Newmag Publishing House and the Izmirlian Foundation for supporting the Armenian publication of the book.

“The Izmirlian Foundation has supported my work over the past two years, and I am deeply grateful to them and to Newmag for bringing the book to Armenian readers. May the children of Armenia thrive in the digital age.”

In “The Anxious Generation,” Haidt proposes several practical solutions: delaying smartphones until high school, restricting social media use until age 16, creating phone-free schools, encouraging free play, and giving children more independence. The book is a call for parents, educators, governments, and technology companies to act before it is too late.