The Anxious Generation Movement

The Anxious Generation Movement is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) led by Jonathan Haidt and a growing coalition of parents, educators, policymakers, and young adults. Our mission is to roll back the phone-based childhood and restore real play, connection, and independence for kids. Meet the team →

TAG was launched in response to the global reaction to Jon’s book. Our work is focused on advancing the four norms he lays out. Read our story →

In 2012, childhood shifted from play and independence to screens and social media. Constant notifications, endless scrolling, and online comparison wire kids for anxiety, depression, attention fragmentation, self-harm, and more. See the research →

Yes – when it’s not designed to be addictive. And kids need guardrails. Tech can be useful, but it can’t replace face-to-face play, real friendships, and independence.

We’re advancing four foundational norms:

• No smartphones before high school
• No social media before 16
• Phone-free schools
• More independence, free play, and responsibility in the real world

These norms are simple but hard to implement alone. When we – families, communities, school districts, etc. – act together, the costs go down and the benefits go up.

We recommend delaying your child’s full entry into the phone-based childhood by delaying when you give them their first smartphone. Delay as long as possible – at least until high school (or age 14). In the meantime, use basic phones or landlines, and try to coordinate with other parents to avoid your child feeling like the only one.

One of the stickiest points for families has been the question of what to do if you’ve already given a child under 14 a smartphone, or have allowed social media for a teen under 16. Backtracking is not easy, and is sure to meet with resistance. However, it’s not too late to change course. Download our guide with Dr. Becky Kennedy →

Schools can create more play and in-person connection by building in unstructured free play. A school that is phone-free and play-full helps kids develop resilience while fostering real-world learning and relationships. Learn more with Let Grow →

We have so many resources! If you’re new here, get a copy of The Anxious Generation, pre-order The Amazing Generation (a companion book made for 5th-8th graders!), or listen to Jon speak about the book, the research, and the movement.

• Buy the book →
• Check out our news page →

There are so many ways to create change, and you can start today. Some ideas to get you started: Set new boundaries with technology at home with your family. Join or start a local play club. Support your school by going phone-free (school leaders need to know parents support them!). Advocate for change at the state and federal levels. Plus, stay tuned for more ways to get involved with our work — we’ll share new developments as they arise!

We’ve curated some of the most important actions you can take right now, based on who you are →

Jon would love to be everywhere he’s invited, but it’s just not possible to accept every request. The good news: he created this video for exactly that reason—sharing key research and practical steps. We encourage you to watch it with friends, parents, or educators to spark conversations and collective action in your community.

Watch the parent/teacher talk →

The Anxious Generation Movement is a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) nonprofit, powered entirely by philanthropy. NYU Stern has created a dedicated account to support our team and movement — and every gift directly fuels our work to restore play, independence, and connection for kids.

Donate today →

Parents can do a lot, but they can’t compete with platforms engineered to keep kids hooked. That’s why we push for policy and company-level changes, too.

Read about our policy work →

No — we’re pro-childhood. Technology can be enormously helpful, and many companies build products that genuinely improve our lives. But a handful of companies now own childhood, designing platforms that exploit kids’ psychology to maximize attention. Children deserve guardrails and protection so they can grow up with real play, independence, and connection.

Comic books in the 1950s are the classic “moral panic” story: people feared they would turn kids violent, but that was mostly an urban myth spread through the media. This is different. Parents aren’t reacting to rumors; they’re seeing the effects of social media on their own kids. And unlike past panics, Gen Z themselves are organizing and demanding change. This isn’t hype — it’s lived reality, backed by data.

We know this can feel tough to imagine. But experts agree: in any emergency, the safest thing is for students to follow the instructions of the adults in the room, with their full focus. Reaching for a phone can create confusion, distraction, and slow down response efforts.

Schools have established emergency protocols to keep kids safe, and staff are trained to communicate with parents when it’s appropriate. The best way to protect children is to let those systems work — not to put the responsibility on kids themselves.

Basic phones and watches can handle safety without opening the door to addictive apps. Explore alternatives →