Is Technology Really Ruining Teens’ Lives? A Review of “How We Grow Up: Understanding Adolescence”
In recent years, a prevailing narrative has captured the anxieties of parents and educators alike: smartphones and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are at the root of a burgeoning mental-health crisis among teenagers. Matt Richtel’s new book, How We Grow Up, published by Mariner, delves deeply into this issue, exploring not only the widespread and complex challenges faced by today’s adolescents but also the societal and cultural factors underpinning these struggles.
A Crisis in Teen Mental Health
The urgency of this conversation is palpable. Richtel recounts the tragic story of Elaniv Burnett, a teen whose life spiraled into despair despite the evident love and care from her parents. Elaniv’s story—marked by depression, self-harm, and ultimately, a fatal overdose—serves as a harrowing starting point. Despite parental controls on electronics and close monitoring of friendships, the family was left grappling for answers, underscoring the often insufficient explanations technology alone can provide.
Richtel’s investigation emerges from a deeply personal place: as a journalist and a father, he sought to understand the forces shaping adolescence today. His reporting draws on insights from experts, parents, teachers, and teens themselves, seeking not only to diagnose problems but also to answer two fundamental questions: What is adolescence fundamentally for, and why is it changing so dramatically now?
The Phone as the Scapegoat
The smartphone hypothesis is compelling in its simplicity. Devices that offer endless streams of social comparison, toxic social dynamics, unrealistic body images, and disrupted sleep patterns seem a convenient explanation for worsening teen mental health. Political and societal consensus appears to support this view; states across the nation have enacted or proposed legislation restricting teens’ social media usage in a bid to protect young minds.
However, as Richtel and many experts note, this explanation is far from definitive. While a 2022 Pew Research Center report states that 46 percent of teens claim to be online “almost constantly,” the interpretation of what this means varies widely, and the link to mental health issues remains complex and multifaceted.
A Broader Historical Context
Richtel’s book aligns itself within a broader ongoing discourse about generational changes in youth well-being. This conversation began in earnest about a decade ago with scholars like Jean Twenge, who coined the term “iGen” for those born between 1995 and 2012. In her 2017 bestseller, Twenge identified correlations between the rise of smartphones and declines in teen happiness, readiness for adulthood, and mental health metrics.
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt further expanded this narrative with his 2024 bestseller The Anxious Generation, arguing that a “rewiring” of adolescent experience had occurred between 2010 and 2015. Haidt attributes this shift to two key developments: an overprotective parenting style that limits real-world play and independence, and the rise of digital technology that replaces healthy offline engagement with potentially harmful online interactions.
Prescription and Controversy
Haidt’s recommendations—delaying smartphone access until high school, restricting social media before age sixteen, banning phones from schools, and encouraging more independent play—have found a receptive audience among concerned parents. His partnership with activist Lenore Skenazy, known for advocating “free-range kids” and childhood independence, adds a real-world dimension to these ideas.
Yet, the debate is far from settled. Critics argue that the evidence tying smartphones directly to mental health decline is correlational rather than causal. Some worry that such prescriptions simplify a highly nuanced problem, while others push back against the moral undertones implicit in the discourse.
Moving Forward: Understanding Adolescence Beyond the Screen
How We Grow Up emphasizes a broader and more nuanced understanding of adolescence—one that recognizes technology as one among many factors that influence teen development. Richtel aims not just to underline the troubles faced by today’s youth, but to guide readers towards empathy, deeper comprehension, and more informed responses.
In confronting the question of what adolescence’s “core, universal purpose” is, Richtel reminds us that this life stage is one of remarkable transformation—a time when young people forge identities, gain independence, and navigate increasingly complex social worlds, both offline and online.
Conclusion
Richtel’s How We Grow Up is a timely and thoughtful contribution to the growing literature on adolescent mental health in the digital age. By moving beyond simple narratives that blame technology alone, the book invites readers to consider a wider array of influences shaping today’s teens. It challenges policymakers, parents, and educators to avoid quick fixes and to develop strategies rooted in understanding adolescents’ real needs and the multifaceted realities they face.
As the debate continues, Richtel’s work is a reminder that the story of adolescence—and the role of technology within it—is neither a cautionary tale nor a celebration, but an evolving human journey that demands careful attention, compassion, and nuanced thinking.
