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.
COP28’s big question: who should pay for the climate crisis?
Is GM feeling iffy about EVs?
The circular economy and closing our resource loop
OpenAI’s “breakthrough”
Who wants to work in Congress anymore?
The origins of America’s consumer-driven economy
The rise of stay-or-pay hiring
Grief and work in the time of war
The governing work that remains to be done
What would a Starlink IPO mean for Elon Musk’s geopolitical clout?
The moral conundrum of carbon credits
Has the movie business reached peak superhero?
Polarization, partisanship and threats to democracy
Actors and studios strike a (tentative) deal
The national debt is turning economists’ heads
The promises and risks of carbon capture
Elon Musk’s Starlink business going gangbusters
Promises won’t pay for climate adaptation
AI safety takes center stage
Where the fractured GOP goes from here
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