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By Honette Irakiza
We recently had a seminar in the McConnell Center about a book called The Anxious Generation. Reading and discussing it really made me reflect on the current state of our generation and how we’ve allowed ourselves to become so deeply absorbed in the trivial rhythms of media and technology. In the book, Jonathan Haidt argues that the widespread use of smartphones and social media has reshaped childhood and adolescence, leading to alarming rises in anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. His argument feels undeniably true when you look around at the habits of today’s youth, especially here in America. I’ve noticed it myself in how much harder it has become to hold meaningful conversations with my peers, and how rare it is to have truly deep, intellectual exchanges anymore.
This became especially clear to me this past summer when my family and I traveled to Rwanda, our motherland. It was my first time back since we moved when I was one year old, so I was meeting many of my cousins and relatives for the first time. Going into the trip, I was nervous that I wouldn’t have much in common with them and that our interactions would be awkward or short-lived. But the reality was the complete opposite. We were able to stay in a house big enough for several of our cousins who live in Rwanda to come stay with us in the city, and every night we stayed up late playing games, laughing, and having the most spontaneous, genuine conversations. Time seemed to disappear when we were together. Our connection felt deep; not just because we were family, but because our time together was personal, unfiltered, and uninterrupted. Looking back, I realize how much that experience was shaped by the simple fact that we weren’t glued to our phones. The spotty service helped, but more than that, being fully present with each other was enough.
There have been very few times in recent years when I’ve felt that same sense of peace and authentic connection. It worries me to think that as screens continue to dominate our attention, future generations might grow up without ever knowing what it feels like to just be together without constant distraction. Haidt’s warning suddenly feels less like an abstract argument and more like a glimpse of what’s at stake. Maybe the first step toward easing our collective anxiety isn’t just unplugging from our devices, but remembering how to truly connect with ourselves and with each other.
Honette is a McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville in the class of 2029. She is studying business economics and political science.