Caveat – Recently, we watched the original Wizard of Oz as a family, and we could not help but notice how the theme of this classic is so relevant to today’s moral panic-based narratives being pushed by some surrounding youth and their use of social media. This article builds on the one we just wrote called, “Social Media, Magicians, and the Wizard of Oz” (1)
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her companions venture to the Emerald City to seek solutions to their problems, trusting in the wisdom of the all-powerful and all-knowing Wizard. But when the curtain is pulled back, they discover the Wizard is not a mystical being but an ordinary man, weaving together a narrative that holds the illusion of truth and power. The book The Anxious Generation (2), we believe, parallels the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz. In the story, the Wizard is a charismatic figure who uses anecdotal tales and selective interpretations to persuade Dorothy to accept his illusions and follow his advice to leave Oz and return home – a course of action she later realizes served as a distraction from the true reality of Oz.
The Anxious Generation has captivated many with it’s thesis that the use of cellphones, social media, and the lack of free-range play are the “yellow brick road” leading directly to the rise in anxiety and depression among youth. The book offers a seemingly clear and direct path to understanding what ails this generation – a narrative that appeals to parents, educators, and policymakers yearning for clarity, and yes even votes, in a chaotic and ever-increasing polarized world when it comes to youth and their use of technology. However, according to most leading psychologists researching this topic, the book crafts a compelling yet oversimplified narrative that unsurprisingly rings true for many parents and caregivers, thus given it the all-knowing ability in understanding the “why” that parents and caregivers were looking for.
However, just as Dorothy’s journey revealed, the truth is rarely as simple as it seems. Mental health challenges among youth arise from a complex web of factors, including genetic predispositions, socioeconomic pressures, family dynamics, cultural changes, and yes, sometimes technology – but not technology alone. (3) The book’s focus on a singular cause obscures the broader picture, much like the Wizard’s illusions distracted Dorthy from the reality of Oz. But as Dorothy and her friends learned, it’s important to question the authority of the Wizard and look beyond the curtain to see who is truly qualified to address the issues at hand.
The Anxious Generation’s framing of the “great rewiring of childhood” as a mental health epidemic caused solely by smartphones and social media oversimplifies a much more intricate reality. While these technologies can sometimes certainly play a role, they are far from the sole culprits. (3)
In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy learns that the power to resolve her problems lies not with the Wizard but within herself and her companions. Similarly, when it comes to understanding youth mental health, we must turn to experts who specialize in the relevant fields – clinical psychologists, neuroscientists, educators, and media scholars who have made their life long academic career a study of social media, technology, and our kids their goal. World leading researchers like Dr. Candice Odgers, Dr. Amy Orben, and Dr Pete Etchells, to name a few, provide nuanced, evidence-based perspectives that resist the allure of oversimplification.
These experts acknowledge that while social media can have negative effects for “some”, it can also foster connection, creativity, and support for the majority of youth – especially for marginalized youth. The question is not whether social media is inherently harmful but how it is used, who is using it, and under what circumstances is it harmful. As Dr. Pete Etchells has stated in his well-researched and evidence-based book “Unlocked” – “So instead of asking, does social media use cause mental health issues? perhaps a better question might be: why do some people prosper online while others get into real difficulty?” (4)
The Anxious Generation’s perspective on social media, like the Wizard’s theatrics, can be compelling and even helpful in sparking discussion – which it definitely has! But it risks drawing attention away from the multifaceted realities of youth mental health and their use of technology and in some cases creating what we call “Nanny State Legislation” in some countries. (5) Just as Dorothy and her companions discovered that courage, intelligence, and heart were within them all along, we must all embrace a more balanced and evidence-based approach to understanding the challenges facing today’s youth.
Youth mental health is not a puzzle that can be solved with one piece – it is a multifaceted issue influenced by numerous intersecting and confounding factors. While The Anxious Generation’s arguments are sparking important discussions, they risk oversimplifying the nuanced realities of social media’s role in our children’s lives. By turning to credible experts and embracing a balanced perspective, we can better equip ourselves to support today’s youth, fostering their well-being in an increasingly digital world. Just as Dorothy discovered the power within herself, we parents and caregivers too must look deeper for the courage, wisdom, and heart to address these challenges with the complexity and care that our kiddos deserve.
Just as Dorothy’s journey through Oz required collaboration, curiosity, and critical thinking, addressing youth mental health and technology demands the same collective effort. Parents, educators, policymakers, and researchers must work together, grounding decisions in the good evidence-based research, rather than fear or oversimplified narratives. Social media, like any tool, holds the potential for both harm and benefit, depending on how it is used and integrated into young people’s lives. (6) It’s all about know tech, not no tech.The vast majority of the over 645,000 teens that we have presented to over the past 15+ years are not the mindless tech zombies, whose brains have been rewired in negative ways, that some want us to believe. (7) The vast majority who grew up with a phone and social media are now parents, teachers, published authors, own a business, have earned scholarships, and have a master’s degree or a PhD. We suspect that the majority of today’s generation will be no different.
By pulling back the curtain on claims that focus solely on the dangers of social media, we can move beyond the moral panic and embrace solutions that consider the diverse realities of youth today. Encouraging open conversations about technology, fostering digital literacy education, and creating environments where young people feel supported are essential steps. The journey to improving youth mental health doesn’t require an easy answer – it requires an honest and nuanced understanding, coupled with collective action rooted in compassion and evidence.
Pulling back the curtain reveals that the answers are not as simple as they seem – and that’s okay. Addressing youth mental health requires more than blaming social media or cellphones – it requires us to engage with the complexity of their lives, guided by experts who truly understand the terrain. Let’s leave the Emerald City as portrayed in the Wizard of OZ behind, and walk a path paved with nuance, empathy, evidence-based research, and rigorous inquiry when it comes to our kids and their use of technology and the internet.
However, when it comes to digital literacy, internet safety, and our kids we often echo a familiar phrase from The Wizard of Oz – “There’s no place like home.” This rings especially true for having ongoing, meaningful conversations with our kids about their interactions with technology and the internet – onlife parenting is, and will continue to be, the keystone when it comes to keeping our kiddos safer online. However, let’s make sure these family discussions are grounded in facts, not fear; evidence, not emotions; and aim to enlighten rather than frighten, supported by solid, research-based evidence and information.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/social-media-magicians-and-the-wizard-of-oz-pulling-back-the-curtain/
7/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/are-todays-teens-becoming-mindless-tech-zombies/
