As a Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in anxiety and depression in children and teens, I’ve witnessed firsthand the alarming rise in mental health concerns that Jonathan Haidt illustrates in The Anxious Generation, particularly the strong correlation between these conditions and smartphone use.

In my 27 years as a therapist, I have never been more concerned about the negative impact of screens and social media on the developing brains of young people. I am a passionate advocate for Unplugged Canada and am dedicated to raising awareness about this critical issue through presentations to schools and medical communities.

Additionally, I share insights and proactive strategies through my blog at www.sharonselby.com, where I explore the online dangers facing youth today. Screens have become our biggest competition for connection with our children. If we are not strongly connected to them, they become increasingly vulnerable to attaching themselves to technology and the harmful influences it can bring—often more so than to their own parents.