Join us at the Germantown Library on Saturday, April 11at 10:30am for a community conversation inspired by the bestselling book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.

We’ll begin by watching a 40-minute, informative video in which Haidt explains the research behind the rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social challenges among young people — and outlines four practical “escape routes” for families and communities:

• Delay smartphones until high school
• Delay social media until age 16
• Advocate for phone-free schools
• Encourage more independence and real-world play

Haidt wrote The Anxious Generation with a firm belief that the challenges confronting our children are solvable. But solving them requires understanding the traps we’ve fallen into — and working together to create change.

After the video, we’ll discuss the Wait Until 8th movement, which empowers parents to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. When families commit together, it reduces peer pressure and strengthens community support.

The book is also available in various formats via MHLS