MIT Lecture Warns of "Decline of Humanity" Due to Personal Tech and Social Media

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues smartphones and social media are damaging cognition, civic life, and children's wellbeing.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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In a lecture at MIT, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt presented a forceful analysis of the damage smartphones and social media are doing to our cognition, civic fabric, and children's wellbeing. Haidt argued that the widespread adoption of personal technology has led to a decline in attention spans, educational achievement, and overall human capability, which could accelerate with the rise of AI. He called for renewed action to mitigate the harmful effects of technology, including limiting smartphone and social media use for children and young adults.

Why it matters

Haidt's analysis highlights growing concerns about the societal impacts of personal technology and social media, particularly on younger generations. As these technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, there are fears that they may be fundamentally altering human cognition, behavior, and social dynamics in ways that could have far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities.

The details

Haidt presented data showing declines in cognition, educational achievement, and happiness that coincided with the widespread adoption of smartphones in the 2010s. He argued that the constant distraction and compulsion to use these devices has eroded people's ability to focus and pay attention, with particularly damaging effects on students. Haidt also examined how social media has contributed to the spread of misinformation and political polarization, making it difficult to establish common facts and truths.

  • Haidt's lecture was delivered on Wednesday at MIT's Huntington Hall.
  • The lecture was part of MIT's Compton Lecture series, which was introduced in 1957.

The players

Jonathan Haidt

A social psychologist and the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. Haidt is the author of the recent bestseller "The Anxious Generation" and has been a leading voice for reforming society's relationship with technology.

Sally A. Kornbluth

The president of MIT, who introduced Haidt's lecture and praised his work in encouraging a more positive role for technology in humanity's future.

Karl Taylor Compton

The ninth president of MIT, who led the Institute from 1930 to 1948 and helped transform it from a strictly engineering school into a great global university with a focus on fundamental scientific research.

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What they’re saying

“Around the world, people are getting diminished. Less intelligent, less happy, less competent. And it's happening very fast … My argument is that if we continue with current trends as AI is coming in, it's going to accelerate. The decline of humanity is going to accelerate.”

— Jonathan Haidt (Mirage News)

“The biggest, the most costly mistake we've ever made in the history of American education [was] to put computers and high tech on people's desks.”

— Jonathan Haidt (Mirage News)

“I am not blaming Gen Z. I am saying we raised our kids in a way - we allowed the technology companies to take over childhood. We allowed a few giant companies to own our children's attention, to show them millions of short videos, to destroy their ability to pay attention, to stop them from reading books, and this is the result.”

— Jonathan Haidt (Mirage News)

What’s next

Haidt suggested several reforms to address the harmful effects of personal technology and social media, including no smartphones for kids before high school, no social media before age 16, making schools phone-free, and giving kids more independence and free play.

The takeaway

Haidt's lecture underscores the growing concerns about the societal impacts of personal technology and social media, particularly on younger generations. As these technologies become more ubiquitous, there are fears that they may be fundamentally altering human cognition, behavior, and social dynamics in ways that could have far-reaching consequences. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort to reform our relationship with technology and prioritize human wellbeing.