Research Highlights The Lab Publications Collaborators

Tech and Society Lab at NYU

Advancing rigorous and actionable research for human flourishing in the digital age.

The Tech and Society Lab generates research to help the public make sense of and navigate the rapid, unprecedented social and technological changes reshaping our lives.

Our Focus

Digital Media Effects

Adolescent Development, Health & Well-Being

Childhood Independence and Risky Play

Social Capital and Community Health

Technology Impacts on Education

Policy Analysis

The Tech and Society Lab is based at NYU Stern.

Academic Research Highlight

How three studies by Vuorre and Przybylski may have obscured the impact of social media

Sigaud, L., Rausch, Z., McClean, A., & Haidt, J.

Read pre-print →

Popular Press Highlight

We Don't Have to Give In to the Smartphones

Haidt, J., Johnson, W., & Rausch, Z.

Read on New York Times →

After Babel Highlight

TikTok is harming children at an industrial scale

Haidt, J., & Rausch, Z.

Read on After Babel →

World Happiness Report

Submit a chapter proposal for World Happiness Report 2026 on social media and youth mental health, responding to an initial essay from our lab

Learn more →

The Lab

Jonathan Haidt

Author of The Anxious Generation

Zach Rausch

Chief Researcher and Editor of After Babel

Ravi Iyer

Research Partner

Jason Lu

Research Associate

Jakey Lebwohl

Research Intern

Emma Park

Research Associate

Alec McClean

Research Associate

Anum Aslam

Research Associate

Bennett Sippel

Research Assistant

Academic Publications

Capraro, V., Globig, L., Rausch, Z., Rathje, S., ... Haidt, J., & Van Bavel (2025).A consensus statement on potential negative impacts of smartphone and social media use on adolescent mental health.

Read pre-print →

Rausch, Z., & Haidt, J. (2025).Why Ferguson's Meta-Analysis Should Not Be Used to Inform Debates on Social Media's Impact on Adolescent Depression and Anxiety: A Commentary.

Read pre-print →

McClean, A., Rausch, Z., & Haidt, J. (2025).The Effect of Broadband Access on Mental Health: A Review of Instrumental Variable Studies.

Read pre-print →

Sigaud, L., Rausch, Z., McClean, A., & Haidt, J. (2025).How three studies by Vuorre and Przybylski may have obscured the impact of social media on youth mental health.

Read pre-print →

Popular Press

We Don't Have to Give In to the Smartphones →

Haidt, J., Johnson, W., & Rausch, Z.

Published in New York Times

June 18, 2025

Taking back childhood from phones—finally →

Haidt, J., & Rausch, Z.

Published in The Free Press

March 27, 2025

It's time to make the internet safer for kids →

Haidt, J., & Rausch, Z.

Published in Wired

November 26, 2024

Gen Z has regrets →

Haidt, J., & Johnson, W.

Published in New York Times

September 17, 2024

Featured After Babel Posts

Visit After Babel →

A selection of featured articles available on the After Babel Substack, highlighting important research related to youth mental health and the impacts of a phone-based childhood.