Recognize that child and adolescent mental health is the best predictor of adult life outcomes, including earnings. Societies and individuals should urgently invest in youth well-being as it tracks throughout people’s life course and affects future societal health.
As a society, parents, and individuals, advocate for government and tech companies to implement “guardrails” for social media, similar to car safety regulations. This could include limitations on usage time or features to harness benefits while mitigating negative impacts.
Actively work to re-establish a culture of in-person social connection, especially among youth. Make efforts to get out of your comfort zone and talk to people face-to-face, rather than relying solely on technology for interaction.
Consistently do good things for other people through pro-social behaviors like volunteering, donating, helping strangers, or talking to them. These acts not only benefit recipients but are causally linked to improving your own well-being.
Parents should first and foremost try to understand the complex and difficult societal situation their children face, including constant attention battles from social media and future work uncertainties. Start with listening rather than immediately imposing limits.
Parents should coordinate with other parents or local schools to establish collective norms and reference points regarding technology and app usage. This helps mitigate peer pressure and creates a healthier environment for children’s well-being.
As a young person, understand that your attention is constantly being fought over by social media platforms. Take agency over your own time by setting boundaries and not letting yourself be consumed by these platforms.
When using social media, aim for active engagement (reaching out, talking about yourself, connecting) rather than passive consumption. Active use can be beneficial for well-being, while passive use is not recommended.
Be aware that algorithms often prioritize negative news due to human hardwiring for threats. Actively manage your news consumption by unticking automatic notifications and subscribing to more positive news sources to balance information intake.
Work with schools and curriculum developers to introduce life skills and happiness science into the education system. Teaching these skills, alongside traditional subjects, helps create happier, more balanced human beings and can improve overall performance.
If you are a teen or know one, consider taking “The Science of Well-Being for Teens” course, which teaches happiness skills. It is accessible for free at coursera.org.