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Honestly with Bari Weiss · November 18, 2025 · 1h 20m

Kids Don't Need Phones

Jonathan Haidt

Bari Weiss interviews social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about his mission to protect children from smartphones and social media. They discuss Haidt's body of work, from The Righteous Mind to The Anxious Generation, and the movement that has emerged around his call to delay kids' access to technology to restore in-person connection and mental well-being.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Smartphones and the Teen Mental Health Crisis
Haidt argues that the rise of smartphones has caused a decline in teen attention, self-confidence, and social skills.
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Moral Foundations and Political Division
In The Righteous Mind, Haidt explained why people are so passionately divided over politics and religion.
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Safety Culture and Campus Intolerance
With Greg Lukianoff, Haidt explored why young people on college campuses are increasingly intolerant of opposing views.
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Editorial

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Turning Common Sense into a Movement
Bari Weiss notes that in a world gone mad, Haidt has turned common sense—like keeping kids off phones—into a radical mission.
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References

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The Anxious Generation — Jonathan Haidt (2024) — The central book discussed; argues that smartphones are causing a teen mental health crisis.
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The Righteous Mind — Jonathan Haidt (2012) — Explored why people are divided over politics and religion.
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The Coddling of the American Mind — Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff (2018) — Examined intolerance and safety culture on college campuses.
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