A new book by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and author Catherine Price is landing in 2025 with a clear message: the next generation of children can thrive in a world full of screens, if they learn how to live with them, not under them. The Amazing Generation is an engaging, optimistic guide written specifically for kids ages 9 to 12, those early tween years when digital habits and self-identity begin to take shape.
Written to be both informative and fun, the book blends nonfiction, interactive content, and even graphic-novel elements to help kids understand how technology affects their lives and how to choose a path that leads to confidence, curiosity, and meaningful connection.
Why This Book Matters for Today’s Kids
In recent years, research has shown that young people’s mental health and attention spans have shifted alongside the rise of smartphones and social media, sometimes in ways that feel overwhelming. Haidt’s earlier work, The Anxious Generation, examined these broader trends and their effects on youth and communities. The Amazing Generation takes those same themes and frames them directly for young readers, helping them make sense of their online experiences without fear or judgment.
Unlike books aimed at adults, this one is tailored to kids who are living the digital world day to day. It doesn’t just warn about risks, it gives children practical ways to think about how they use technology, how it affects their mood and relationships, and how they can build lives rich with real-world connection and adventure.
What You’ll Find Inside the Book
The Amazing Generation is more than a typical reading experience. It combines:
Interactive Challenges: Kids are invited to explore how they interact with screens and try exercises that guide them toward balance and intention.
Graphics & Stories: Illustrations and comic-style storytelling make complex topics accessible and relatable, especially for younger readers who learn best visually.
Behind-the-Scenes Facts: The book explains how technology companies design platforms to grab attention and keep kids scrolling, in ways that are clear but not overwhelming.
Real-Life Anecdotes: Young adults who look back on their early smartphone years share what they wish they’d known, making the lessons feel real and human.
This combination of storytelling and educational guidance makes the book inviting,not preachy, and encourages young readers to feel empowered rather than lectured.
What Kids Will Learn
Rather than telling kids to just “put down the phone,” the book encourages them to think about how screens fit into a full, joyful life. Some of the major lessons include:
- Understanding how tech is designed to capture attention
- Recognizing when screen time is helping versus distracting
- Exploring real-world passions, hobbies, and relationships
- Building confidence in moments outside of the screen
- Making choices that serve their long-term wellbeing
The tone is hopeful: kids aren’t seen as victims of technology, but as young people with agency and potential to shape their own lives.
How It Fits With CyberSafely’s Mission
At CyberSafely Foundation, we focus on education, empowerment, and emotional safety in a digital world. The Amazing Generation aligns beautifully with that mission: it meets children on their level, equips them with understanding, and supports them in building healthy habits, not through fear, but through awareness and choice.
As families and educators, we can use books like this as conversation starters with kids about how they spend their time, how screens make them feel, and what they want their lives to look like beyond the glow of a phone.
Final Thought
The Amazing Generation is not just a book about what technology can do, it’s about what technology should serve: creativity, connection, curiosity, and joy. By helping kids ages 9-12 understand both the benefits and the traps of life with screens, Haidt and Price provide a roadmap toward a generation that is thoughtful, balanced, and intentional.
At CyberSafely Foundation, we believe in helping young people grow into confident, empowered, and digitally aware individuals, and this book is a valuable guide along that path.