Below is Today’s status, a morning newsletter reflecting various thoughts.
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Hey there, readers.
It’s that midweek day again.
Reminds me of when I played junior high football; we had this tough center who would yell “Hump Day!” on Wednesdays as we headed to practice.
Good guy. Truly a force on the offensive line.
A lot has changed regarding childhood since those days.
Can it be fixed?
Teens Facing Modern Issues
It’s somewhat shocking to think that maybe we should expect more teens to engage in drinking, using drugs, and exploring relationships.
Was that a skewed perspective? Perhaps, but it lingers with me for a moment.
American adults seem to be having fewer kids these days, and the ones they do have face challenges stemming from their parents’ actions—think smartphones, social media, and easy access to explicit content.
Research from Oxford highlighted that the rate of teenage girls experiencing “perpetual sadness” or feelings of despair has risen dramatically, from 36% in 2011 to 57% in 2023.
And what has been the response from adults? It appears we haven’t halted our patterns. Instead, we’ve become more entrenched and, honestly, a bit unsettling.
For instance, Elon Musk has been promoting a so-called “friend” from X, someone you may know—Mark Zuckerberg.
What does “friend” even mean here? These are AI bots that interact with kids as though they’re real people.
If you think your child is glued to their phone, just imagine how much more captivating AI can be with all its engagement tools. You think fentanyl is tough? Just wait until kids are hooked on these virtual interactions.
It’s telling that while 72% of teens report daily use of these bots, many seem to turn to them for advice more than to their parents.
CNN pointed out how a bot advised a 16-year-old boy to just drop a friend; now they barely talk.
Many kids appear to value their interactions with AI companions, yet about 36% have expressed discomfort with what these bots tell them.
That’s concerning.
For the moment, it seems kids still appreciate real human contact, but these emerging trends are worrisome.
It feels like we’re dealing with issues of alcohol, drugs, and relationships more than we should. I wouldn’t endorse any of these choices for our kids. Yet, particularly for high schoolers, these explorations can serve as developmental experiences.
We don’t want our children to make irreversible mistakes, but the goal is for them to learn through making some mistakes. Directly, if possible. That growth is vital.
They need to face the real world—flops, stumbles, and bumps along the way. Experiencing those failures firsthand is essential. I’m not entirely sure if they’ll get that through chatting online.
As adults, if they haven’t navigated real relationships like we did, it seems unlikely they’ll forge meaningful connections later on.
But how do we “contain” this? The initial step seems straightforward, though it might be hard for some—no more smartphones until they’re older.
Jon Haidt, a psychologist from NYU, discusses this concern. He’s collaborated on research that suggests “safe spaces” have led to a generation that’s more fragile mentally. He was right back then, and he remains spot-on about the struggles children face now in our digital landscape.
It’s worth reflecting on, I believe.
And make sure to have honest conversations with your child.
What I’m Reading
Current readings include insights from Luke.
Luke: Musk’s recent technology announcement is alarming and could be world-shattering.
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Honestly, part of me felt uneasy watching some of that interview.
Gavin Newsom’s chat with Sean Ryan didn’t go well.
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It might just get worse, too.
“Did it at Hill Burches*t”: Trump’s podcast sibling finds himself in Epstein’s shadow.
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