Younger generation’s social skills on rapid decline

There is growing concern for the rapid decline in the mental health and social skills of young people since the “rapid spread” of social media and smartphones since 2007, says La Trobe University’s Professor of Sociology John Carroll.

“The COVID years have exacerbated what was a growing problem anyway in that clearly home-schooling meant school children were more dependent on their devices,” Mr Carroll told Sky News Australia.

He said mental health services reported a “very significant” increase in Australian teenagers particularly through the pandemic years.

“There are going to be major problems of an unforeseen sort because we don’t really know the long-term consequences of living your life on a screen.”

[dimitzvonmelbourne]

Excellent article in today's Australian by the professor.

[trss]

I love iPhones. I remember what it was like before iphones. In the staff room, my colleagues would sit around talking about how much they hate their husbands and children and how no one should ever get married. Then, they'd look at me and say, "So Susan, when are you going to get married?"

They would also talk about how fat they all were and tell me that when I became their age, I would be fat too.

I'm so glad I don't have to listen that anymore. It was depressing.