There’s been a lot of debate lately about the potential effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s mental health. Some states like states like Florida and Utah have even tried to ban kids from using social media apps until they reach a certain age. But Mikey Jensen, professor of clinical psychology and director of the Interactions and Relationships Lab at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, said outright bans could do more harm than good.
On the show today: How smartphones and social media are reshaping our lives. And why we should focus on the quality of kids’ online time instead of the amount of it.
Then, we’ll get into the cost of a major ransomware attack for a health care company and its clients. And, the mini pencil economy and what a history professor got wrong about ancient Rome.
Here’s everything we talked about today:
We want to hear your answer to the Make Me Smart question. You can reach us at makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.
The afterlife of MLK’s call for a guaranteed income
When substances are legal but dangerous
The federal budget loop de loop
The risky business of bitcoin ETFs
The death of social media as we know it
Let’s talk about privilege in the workplace
From “Million Bazillion”: What’s a recession?
The new in-space economy (rerun)
Who benefits from the welfare-to-work system?
A U.S. history lesson through food (rerun)
The real costs of reality TV
Where’s the (lab-grown) beef? (rerun)
How technology can help solve the water crisis in the West
The dirty side of the fast-fashion business (rerun)
And that’s a wrap on 2023
The battle over aid to Ukraine
Taking the pulse of the U.S. bond market
What is MAGAnomics, actually?
Millennial mom dread
Economics on Tap: Wastewater beer edition
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