Screen Time & Anxiety: What The Anxious Generation Teaches Parents of Tweens and Teens

As single parents raising tweens and teens, we’re facing a challenge no generation before us has experienced: raising kids in the age of smartphones and social media.

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his book The Anxious Generation, argues that around 2010 we saw a historic shift—kids moved from a play-based childhood to a phone-based one. The result? A dramatic rise in anxiety, depression, and behavioral struggles, especially among teens.

Why Screens Fuel Anxiety

Haidt points to several factors:

• 📱 Constant Social Comparison – Social media feeds amplify insecurities, especially for tween girls.
  
• 💤 Poor Sleep – Late-night scrolling keeps kids wired, and sleep loss makes anxiety worse.
  
• 👥 Lost Face-to-Face Time – Kids need in-person play and connection for healthy development, but devices steal those opportunities.
  
  

What This Means for Single Parents

For single parents, screens can feel like a lifeline—an easy way to keep kids entertained. But long-term, too much screen time can harm behavior, family connection, and mental health.

Best Practices Backed by Experts

Haidt and other parenting experts recommend:

1. Delay smartphones & social media until high school if possible.
   
2. Protect sleep by keeping devices out of bedrooms at night.
   
3. Set family tech rules like no phones at meals.
   
4. Model balance—your kids watch how you use technology, too.
   
   

One Reset You Can Start Tonight

Start simple: create a charging station outside bedrooms and have everyone (yes, including you!) plug in before bed. This one reset alone improves sleep, lowers anxiety, and reduces conflict.

Parenting in the digital age is tough—but you’re not alone. With small, intentional resets, single parents can help their tweens and teens build healthier relationships with technology.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here.