Does 'The Anxious Generation' Apply to New Zealand?

Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation argues that a shift from “play-based” to “phone-based” childhood has led to a sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and disconnection among teens. But how well does that argument hold up in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Here’s a breakdown — what fits, what doesn’t, and what might matter more here at home.

📈 1. Mental Health Trends in NZ Youth

Does the crisis exist here?
✅ Yes — possibly even more severely than in the US.

• Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in New Zealand.
• NZ has among the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD.
• Youth mental distress nearly doubled between 2012–2019 (Youth2000 data).
• Young women are especially affected — anxiety, depression, and self-harm are on the rise.

📌 This strongly aligns with Haidt’s central concern.

📱 2. Smartphone & Social Media Use

Do Kiwi kids have early, unrestricted access?
✅ Increasingly, yes.

• Most NZ teens own a smartphone by age 12 or younger.
• Social media use (Snapchat, TikTok, Discord) begins early — often before official age limits.
• Netsafe reports show near-universal access in higher decile schools, with access rising across the board.

What’s different:

• Inconsistent parental boundaries
• Wide variation between schools — some ban phones, others embed them in learning

📌 Haidt’s concern maps well here, though regulation is patchier.

🚸 3. Play-Based vs Risk-Averse Childhood

Are we overprotecting offline and underprotecting online?
⚠️ Mixed.

• NZ still has strong outdoor culture — bikes, trampolines, bush play, etc.
• But in urban and lower-income areas, screens are often the default due to safety concerns or lack of space.
• Urban sprawl and traffic have also reduced safe, independent movement.

📌 Haidt’s theory fits best in urban NZ — less so in rural communities.

🌱 4. Māori & Pasifika Youth

Does Haidt account for bicultural or multi-ethnic experiences?
❌ Not at all.

• Māori and Pasifika youth experience systemic racism, trauma, and economic hardship.
• Mental health challenges are often linked to disconnection from culture, colonisation, and housing insecurity — not just screens.
• The hauora model of wellbeing (physical, mental, spiritual, family) offers a richer, more holistic framework.

📌 Haidt’s book is too monocultural to fully address NZ’s youth experience.

🏫 5. School & Government Responses

Has NZ responded effectively?
⚠️ Inconsistently.

• Schools have banned phones during class or breaks.
• Most promote BYOD and expect daily device use.
• The Ministry promotes digital literacy — but there’s no nationwide digital wellbeing or critical thinking curriculum.

📌 Haidt would likely say we’re underdoing it — and he’d be right.

🌐 6. Digital Equity & Rural Access

Does Haidt’s model apply equally across NZ?
No — access is uneven.

• Rural teens often deal with spotty coverage or limited bandwidth.
• Low-income families may share devices or rely on prepaid data.
• In some cases, online support is the only support available.

📌 A universal “no phone before 16” policy might hurt the very kids who need support the most.

⚖️ Summary Table

✅ Conclusion: What NZ Can Learn

The Anxious Generation is a useful wake-up call — and much of it applies in Aotearoa.

But we also need to:

• Bring in cultural context — especially Māori and Pasifika perspectives
• Recognise digital inequity across class and region
• Focus less on bans, and more on critical thinking, offline resilience, and stronger support networks

In short: connection isn’t the enemy — but discernment is survival.

Let’s raise kids who are not just connected — but digitally strong, culturally grounded, and mentally well.