Jonathan Haidt talking about “The Anxious Generation”

As a university teacher of mathematics for more than 25 years (time flies!), I witnessed an evolution in the way that my students relate to difficulties, and math is difficult indeed. In recent years —even before the Covid-19 crazy period— I witnessed a sudden drop in the capacity to stay with an exercise or a difficult notion, many students simply give up and wait to be spoon-fed.

Was it me being older and growing bored of saying the same things year after year, or is it something that is happening to the younger generation?

I started reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and I love it because it makes so much sense. This is not me becoming a grumpy old teacher (at least not just that), there is something happening indeed to people born after 1995.

So here is a short and lovely interview of Haidt by Prince Harry. To add to this, I can share some statistics, gleaned through my interactions with students enrolled in my courses that inspired Study Like an Olympian: a few years ago, most students would spend about 15 hours a week on Instagram+SnapChat. Now the norm is a staggering 35 hours on Instagram+TikTok. Extreme cases (like 60 hours a week or more) are very concerning, as these poor people are left bloodless, brainless and futureless.

I am alarmed and I know that it is much better to encounter problems with a more peaceful attitude. Hence, here is a more relaxed introduction to Haidt’s research topic, it is a pleasure to share this with you: