Smartphone Nation - by Kaitlyn Regehr (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A candid, rigorous, and witty read on how to stop digital devices from wreaking havoc on our lives. As a leading expert on social media and internet policy, Kaitlyn Regehr illuminates what we can do--individually and collectively--to put our smartphones in their place."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

A transformative guide to outsmarting your screen and establishing healthier tech habits that will help you and your family live better--for anyone who read The Anxious Generation and wants to know what to do next.

Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr--a celebrated researcher and professor of digital humanities--explains how we can hold on to the myriad benefits of technology while evading their hidden dangers. We are all using (and parenting around) a technology we didn't grow up with; it makes sense that we feel overwhelmed. In Smartphone Nation, Regehr explains how these technologies work, giving you the power to change the way you (and your family) use your devices. Regehr proposes a new, food pyramid-like framework for understanding and improving our digital consumption. Some tech, like nutrient-dense food, is good for us; it is vital in our lives. But so much of what we consume via algorithms is like candy that rots our teeth: it's disastrous for our wellbeing. Regehr's groundbreaking research reveals how we can reclaim control and maintain a healthy digital diet.

Essential reading anyone who knows there's more to life than staring at a screen--or who wants to raise children who believe that, too--Smartphone Nation shows how to:

- Navigate the attention economy, which prioritizes engagement at all costs
- Improve your digital nutrition for better mental health
- Spring clean your viewing experience
- Game the algorithm
- Catch misinformation
- Parent your children in the digital age

Thoughtful, clearsighted, and empowering, Smartphone Nation is essential reading for anyone who owns a phone.

Review Quotes

"A candid, rigorous, and witty read on how to stop digital devices from wreaking havoc on our lives . . . As a leading expert on social media and internet policy, Kaitlyn Regehr illuminates what we can do--individually and collectively--to put our smartphones in their place."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

"Kaitlyn Regehr is my North Star when it comes to navigating the digital space. Run, don't walk, to her new book, Smartphone Nation!"--Katherine Waterston, actress, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

"In a time of disconnection and isolation, this book is what the world needs."--Dr. Dana Suskind, New York Times bestselling author of Thirty Million Words and Parent Nation

"If you've ever wondered how a device in your pocket became the engine of both connection and control, Smartphone Nation is essential reading. Regehr unpacks how smartphones have rewired our democracy, our privacy, and even our activism. You'll finish eager to reclaim your power and show that ordinary people can use the tools of the tech age to demand more: more transparency, more justice, more community."--Shannon Watts, New York Times bestselling author of Fired Up

"Smartphone Nation delivers eye-opening guidance on how we use our phones and how we help our kids navigate tech. Regehr shows how to set boundaries and reshape your family's relationship with devices. We didn't grow up with this tech--and neither did our pediatricians. This is the modern digital survival guide every parent needs."--Melissa Urban, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Boundaries

"Smartphone Nation is essential reading for anyone looking to rethink their family's relationship with technology. This urgent exploration of how smartphones shape childhood, mental health, and society demystifies the algorithms driving our digital world and equips us with the practical tools needed to build a healthier, happier future."--Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of Smartphone-Free Childhood UK

"[Regehr's] smart and accessible 'Digital Diet Pyramid, ' which outlines how the various types of digital engagement--from passive use to education and learning--should be prioritized, will help readers think critically about their screen time. This successfully equips families to upend unhealthy digital practices."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr is a world-renowned expert on the cultural impacts of social media. She's an Associate Professor and the Program Director of Digital Humanities at University College London. Dr. Regehr appears regularly in the media as an expert on this subject, including on BBC News, ITV, BBC Women's Hour, Channel 4 and in The Economist. She is a prominent voice in the media, a key influence in public policy circles, and a mother of two.