As with most societal trends, the causes are likely multifaceted, and I believe this situation is no exception. Here are a few observations:
First, I wonder how these behavioral patterns evolve as teens transition to college and begin living more independently. The role of parents in shaping these habits also seems significant as more and more parents are involved in their children’s lives. While increased parental involvement has benefits, it may also prevent kids from developing resilience through failure and mistakes—an essential part of growing up. Jean M. Twenge captures this well in her observation:
“Childhood has lengthened, with teens treated more like children, less independent and more protected by parents than they once were. The entire developmental trajectory, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, has slowed. Adolescence—the time when teens begin to do things adults do—now happens later. Thirteen-year-olds—and even 18-year-olds—are less likely to act like adults and spend their time like adults. They are more likely, instead, to act like children—not by being immature, necessarily, but by postponing the usual activities of adults.”
This prolonged period of dependence may explain why teens seek alternative forms of autonomy and escapism in the digital world. However, this dependency might carry over into college life, where I’ve heard firsthand accounts of students turning to ADHD medications (even WSJ had an article about young bankers taking ADHD medication recently - https://tinyurl.com/3ucpk2wx) as a way to stay focused. Many of these students don’t have ADHD but feel pressured to perform in demanding academic environments. This raises concerns about whether we are inadvertently fostering a culture reliant on external aids—whether chemical or digital—for productivity and focus.
Additionally, we also need to explore further the growing mental health challenges tied to technology use, particularly loneliness. I believe loneliness deserves deeper exploration, as it may have even more long-term consequences than drugs. While substance abuse often has an endpoint through treatment or recovery, loneliness, especially in a world where face-to-face interactions are becoming rare, can persist indefinitely. This makes creating physical and virtual spaces that encourage genuine, meaningful connections all the more important.
Finally, it’s worth emphasizing the role of schools and colleges in teaching academic fundamentals and interpersonal skills. After-hours interactions, such as social events or collaborative activities, are critical for developing well-rounded individuals. As you mentioned, replicating these dynamics in the digital world remains a significant challenge. While digital spaces offer convenience and accessibility, they often lack the depth and richness of in-person interactions, vital for building empathy, trust, and social resilience.
In conclusion, while the decline in teen drug use is undoubtedly a positive development, it’s essential to examine what dependencies are replacing these vices. Are we equipping teens with the tools to navigate the digital and physical worlds healthily, or are we inadvertently creating new challenges? Your post effectively raises these questions, and I hope more discussions will follow on fostering balanced, mindful engagement with technology while preserving the benefits of real-world interactions.
Thank you. It feels like part of a larger societal shift, at the expense of genuine exploration and resilience-building. through work and life in parenting, in education, and now, as you point out, in how young people are coping with the pressures of it all. This all ties into discussions of Haidt's "coddling" and "victimhood culture." The irony is that in trying to create a perfectly safe and optimized world, we may be creating a generation ill-equipped to handle the inevitable messiness of real life.
That is a great quote from Jean M. Twenge, thank you. You know, just sit in any restaurant or hotel breakfast area and you will see young kids with phones or tablets, and the parents also with their phones. Or think of parents with strollers, you often see the young children with a phone. So you are right to address that point of maturity... are we not talking with and involving young people?
"Loneliness deserves deeper exploration" - this could also be a result of declining population, more single children households? That is a wild guess... but I no a few families, so possibly one small observation - but for sure it must be looked at deeper. I will read the WSJ article.
I should have added the following statistics about loneliness in my earlier post:
Age (Hint: it is not what you might expect.)
People between 30-44 years of age were the loneliest group — 29% of people in this age range said they were “frequently” or “always” lonely
Among 18–29-year-olds — the rate was 24%
For 45–64-year-olds, the rate was 20%
Adults aged 65 and older reported the lowest rate: 10% felt lonely
And what is the top reason:
Technology — 73% of those surveyed selected technology as contributing to loneliness in the country
Insufficient time with family — 66% chose this issue as a reason for loneliness in America
People are overworked or too busy or tired — 62% surveyed picked this concern
Mental health challenges that harm relationships with others — 60% of people rated this as a significant problem
Living in a society that is too individualistic — 58% named this as a cause of America’s loneliness problem
No religious or spiritual life, too much focus on one’s own feelings, and the changing nature of work — with more remote and hybrid schedules — were perceived causes of loneliness selected by around 50% of people who participated in the survey
Now, think about AGI and its potential impact on society and loneliness. Today, most people find structure and purpose through work or education. But what happens when there is no work or meaningful work left to do? How will most of us find purpose in a world where traditional roles are no longer necessary?
I’m not suggesting there are no positives to this transformation. AGI could solve countless problems, eliminate drudgery, and unlock unprecedented opportunities for humanity. However, do these positives outweigh the negatives? Only time will tell.
As a scientist by training and a technologist by profession, I find myself conflicted. While I recognize the immense potential of AGI, I also feel that we are far from ready to handle the societal, ethical, and emotional challenges it will bring. For this reason, I hope the path toward AGI unfolds slowly, giving us the time to figure out how to adapt.
And let’s be clear: despite all the hype, systems like o3 are not on the verge of becoming AGI anytime soon. There is still a long road ahead in both technical development and our understanding of how such systems will fit into—or disrupt—our world.
Another excellent post!
As with most societal trends, the causes are likely multifaceted, and I believe this situation is no exception. Here are a few observations:
First, I wonder how these behavioral patterns evolve as teens transition to college and begin living more independently. The role of parents in shaping these habits also seems significant as more and more parents are involved in their children’s lives. While increased parental involvement has benefits, it may also prevent kids from developing resilience through failure and mistakes—an essential part of growing up. Jean M. Twenge captures this well in her observation:
“Childhood has lengthened, with teens treated more like children, less independent and more protected by parents than they once were. The entire developmental trajectory, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, has slowed. Adolescence—the time when teens begin to do things adults do—now happens later. Thirteen-year-olds—and even 18-year-olds—are less likely to act like adults and spend their time like adults. They are more likely, instead, to act like children—not by being immature, necessarily, but by postponing the usual activities of adults.”
This prolonged period of dependence may explain why teens seek alternative forms of autonomy and escapism in the digital world. However, this dependency might carry over into college life, where I’ve heard firsthand accounts of students turning to ADHD medications (even WSJ had an article about young bankers taking ADHD medication recently - https://tinyurl.com/3ucpk2wx) as a way to stay focused. Many of these students don’t have ADHD but feel pressured to perform in demanding academic environments. This raises concerns about whether we are inadvertently fostering a culture reliant on external aids—whether chemical or digital—for productivity and focus.
Additionally, we also need to explore further the growing mental health challenges tied to technology use, particularly loneliness. I believe loneliness deserves deeper exploration, as it may have even more long-term consequences than drugs. While substance abuse often has an endpoint through treatment or recovery, loneliness, especially in a world where face-to-face interactions are becoming rare, can persist indefinitely. This makes creating physical and virtual spaces that encourage genuine, meaningful connections all the more important.
Finally, it’s worth emphasizing the role of schools and colleges in teaching academic fundamentals and interpersonal skills. After-hours interactions, such as social events or collaborative activities, are critical for developing well-rounded individuals. As you mentioned, replicating these dynamics in the digital world remains a significant challenge. While digital spaces offer convenience and accessibility, they often lack the depth and richness of in-person interactions, vital for building empathy, trust, and social resilience.
In conclusion, while the decline in teen drug use is undoubtedly a positive development, it’s essential to examine what dependencies are replacing these vices. Are we equipping teens with the tools to navigate the digital and physical worlds healthily, or are we inadvertently creating new challenges? Your post effectively raises these questions, and I hope more discussions will follow on fostering balanced, mindful engagement with technology while preserving the benefits of real-world interactions.
Thank you. It feels like part of a larger societal shift, at the expense of genuine exploration and resilience-building. through work and life in parenting, in education, and now, as you point out, in how young people are coping with the pressures of it all. This all ties into discussions of Haidt's "coddling" and "victimhood culture." The irony is that in trying to create a perfectly safe and optimized world, we may be creating a generation ill-equipped to handle the inevitable messiness of real life.
That is a great quote from Jean M. Twenge, thank you. You know, just sit in any restaurant or hotel breakfast area and you will see young kids with phones or tablets, and the parents also with their phones. Or think of parents with strollers, you often see the young children with a phone. So you are right to address that point of maturity... are we not talking with and involving young people?
"Loneliness deserves deeper exploration" - this could also be a result of declining population, more single children households? That is a wild guess... but I no a few families, so possibly one small observation - but for sure it must be looked at deeper. I will read the WSJ article.
I should have added the following statistics about loneliness in my earlier post:
Age (Hint: it is not what you might expect.)
People between 30-44 years of age were the loneliest group — 29% of people in this age range said they were “frequently” or “always” lonely
Among 18–29-year-olds — the rate was 24%
For 45–64-year-olds, the rate was 20%
Adults aged 65 and older reported the lowest rate: 10% felt lonely
And what is the top reason:
Technology — 73% of those surveyed selected technology as contributing to loneliness in the country
Insufficient time with family — 66% chose this issue as a reason for loneliness in America
People are overworked or too busy or tired — 62% surveyed picked this concern
Mental health challenges that harm relationships with others — 60% of people rated this as a significant problem
Living in a society that is too individualistic — 58% named this as a cause of America’s loneliness problem
No religious or spiritual life, too much focus on one’s own feelings, and the changing nature of work — with more remote and hybrid schedules — were perceived causes of loneliness selected by around 50% of people who participated in the survey
More here: https://tinyurl.com/2zan5k6k
That is very damning. The reasons are also very telling.
There was also a deep study on this as part of a senate committee which I used in lectures for a few years, I will write about that.
Now, think about AGI and its potential impact on society and loneliness. Today, most people find structure and purpose through work or education. But what happens when there is no work or meaningful work left to do? How will most of us find purpose in a world where traditional roles are no longer necessary?
I’m not suggesting there are no positives to this transformation. AGI could solve countless problems, eliminate drudgery, and unlock unprecedented opportunities for humanity. However, do these positives outweigh the negatives? Only time will tell.
As a scientist by training and a technologist by profession, I find myself conflicted. While I recognize the immense potential of AGI, I also feel that we are far from ready to handle the societal, ethical, and emotional challenges it will bring. For this reason, I hope the path toward AGI unfolds slowly, giving us the time to figure out how to adapt.
And let’s be clear: despite all the hype, systems like o3 are not on the verge of becoming AGI anytime soon. There is still a long road ahead in both technical development and our understanding of how such systems will fit into—or disrupt—our world.