Your argument would be valid if this phenomenon was specific to USA, but it's not. It's happening (to my knowledge) everywhere where kids were given unrestricted access to the Internet. That's the common denominator, not political or social issues.

That we also have political and social issues is not making the situation easier, but I don't believe that's the root cause for kids' increased mental issues. The previous generations had their part of alarmism and issues as well -- e.g. world wars, nukes, oil crises, cold war, smaller wars everywhere all the time (Korea and Vietnam even constituted a general draft in the US, which must have not been a great time), satanism panic/red scare/gay scare.

[–] AAA@feddit.de 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think his argument is valid, just as yours is.

You're right it's not only the US. But he's also right that phones are not the only reason / common denominator. Basically every country has a rigged economy and a two class justice system - some more, some less. But the ruling class secured their privileges everywhere. Our planet's doom looming over the horizon is also a global phenomenon.

What unrestricted access to the internet is doing: it's making everyone much more aware of those things, their global scale. Everyone gets a feeling of how bad it is because there seems to be no greener pasture anymore.