Anxious Generation panel explores technology relationships

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 30, 2025

Salisbury Academy News Service

In a deep-dive into the influence of technology on our lives, Salisbury Academy hosted a panel discussion for the larger community on Jonathan Haidt’s New York Times bestseller “The Anxious Generation” led by panelists Trevor Eppehimer, Jonathan Hetterly and Josh Musser Gritter.

“Haidt sheds light on why kids today are more anxious and depressed,” Eppehimer said. “This book has changed the way I think about a lot of things.” 

The discussion went on to lead an analysis of individuals’ relationship with technology. These include the relationships of Generation Z’s young people with technology as well as that of the adults in their lives who influence young people and model for them. 

“With the human spirit, everything has an opportunity cost,” said Musser Gritter. “Tech can creep in. I wonder what the cost is of that time — our most precious commodity — spent on tech.”

Musser Gritter shared that this is a big and complex problem, and he encouraged those in attendance to take one step at a time in contemplating and improving those tech relationships. 

Hetterly shared some of the key recommendations of the book such as allowing technology for children as an earned privilege and not as a right, holding off on social media — a demonstrated risk with robust consequences for young people — until the later teenage years, and encouraging in-person connections for youth through healthy activities and, as Haidt puts it, “thick” communities. 

“I would make a strong argument to say that children’s mental health is simply mirroring the mental health of their parents and other adults around them,” said Hetterly. “This doesn’t mean we need to take our eyes off the young people, but this change needs to be more systemic.”

Panel members for the event brought their unique backgrounds and expertise to the discussion:

Eppehimer, who is the academic dean and Messinger-Williams family associate professor of theology and ethics at the Hood Theological Seminary, brought his insights as director of the Messinger-Williams Community Education Initiative which offers free courses to the public on topics pertaining to faith, ethics, community and meaning-in-life.

Hetterly has worked in the mental health field for over a decade. His interest in mental health and wellness grew out of his work in youth and family ministries. He regularly speaks and teaches at local schools, universities, churches and companies, and some of his most requested topics are anxiety, youth culture, parenting, technology and other mental health-related topics. 

Musser Gritter serves as lead pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury and has been active in youth ministry for over a decade. Musser Gritter says that along the way, he has seen how our digital world has made us a more divided, distracted and depressed people. He explains that he has great interest in learning how we can band together to restore and reclaim our sense of wonder at the world and for one another. 

The event drew more than 100 community attendees. Throughout the discussion, the three panelists conveyed their tremendous respect for young people today and enthusiasm for their potential as future leaders. 

“I think one of the things we should offer our children is a hopeful future in which they can thrive,” said Musser Gritter. “Let’s have more compassion and grace for our youngest generation.”