Dr. Anna Lembke

You know, we're in the heart of Silicon Valley. So we realized that that was true. With the constantly changing high school schedules, all of the assignments in line, like there was no way to participate in high school life without without connecting to the internet. And this was already some eight years ago when she started high school.

You know, we're in the heart of Silicon Valley. So we realized that that was true. With the constantly changing high school schedules, all of the assignments in line, like there was no way to participate in high school life without without connecting to the internet. And this was already some eight years ago when she started high school.

So we got internet connection, and really it was downhill from there. I just want to pause here.

So we got internet connection, and really it was downhill from there. I just want to pause here.

We did not have internet in our home, and I did not own a smartphone, if you can believe it, until about 2019 when I was forced through work to get one in order to be able to prescribe controlled substances using Duo Security. Again, I want to emphasize, like, I'm not judging other people because... I get it. Most people... I'm just at awe.

We did not have internet in our home, and I did not own a smartphone, if you can believe it, until about 2019 when I was forced through work to get one in order to be able to prescribe controlled substances using Duo Security. Again, I want to emphasize, like, I'm not judging other people because... I get it. Most people... I'm just at awe.

Yeah, well, and, you know, I have the kind of work that allows me to do that. Most people do not have that.

Yeah, well, and, you know, I have the kind of work that allows me to do that. Most people do not have that.

Exactly, exactly. But, you know... What can I tell you? My kids are now between ages 18 and 23. They have struggled to various degrees with their time online. But what I'm really grateful for is that they have at baseline this notion that too much time on the Internet is not a good thing. It's not a good thing for relationships. It's not a good thing for mental health.

Exactly, exactly. But, you know... What can I tell you? My kids are now between ages 18 and 23. They have struggled to various degrees with their time online. But what I'm really grateful for is that they have at baseline this notion that too much time on the Internet is not a good thing. It's not a good thing for relationships. It's not a good thing for mental health.

It's not a good thing for physical health. So even if they intermittently struggle with spending occasionally too much time online, they have this very strong idea rooted in, let's be present. Let's be present together. Let's not be distracted. To the point where this past winter holiday, we decided to go to Yosemite Valley together as a family.

It's not a good thing for physical health. So even if they intermittently struggle with spending occasionally too much time online, they have this very strong idea rooted in, let's be present. Let's be present together. Let's not be distracted. To the point where this past winter holiday, we decided to go to Yosemite Valley together as a family.

And we had done tons of vacations with the kids, always device-free, which, by the way, is like being a blind person now when you're traveling. It's literally like you cannot see because everything is—you need the QR code. But we've done it. And I said, are you guys still game for device-free? Because it had been a couple years since we'd gone on that kind of trip together. And they were.

And we had done tons of vacations with the kids, always device-free, which, by the way, is like being a blind person now when you're traveling. It's literally like you cannot see because everything is—you need the QR code. But we've done it. And I said, are you guys still game for device-free? Because it had been a couple years since we'd gone on that kind of trip together. And they were.

They were excited. And from the moment we got into the car and started driving to Yosemite Valley, I felt excited. a distinct difference in the quality of the presence of all of us, even in the car. And it lasted through the whole three days. It's like we played board games. We had meals together. And the key thing there was like nobody was sort of

They were excited. And from the moment we got into the car and started driving to Yosemite Valley, I felt excited. a distinct difference in the quality of the presence of all of us, even in the car. And it lasted through the whole three days. It's like we played board games. We had meals together. And the key thing there was like nobody was sort of

looking toward the end of the meal to go check their device. Because there was no device to check, we lingered, right? We extended these conversations. We moseyed along after dinner, you know, under the stars. It was so different. And I became even more convinced that we need internet-free communal spaces. We need places where we come together

looking toward the end of the meal to go check their device. Because there was no device to check, we lingered, right? We extended these conversations. We moseyed along after dinner, you know, under the stars. It was so different. And I became even more convinced that we need internet-free communal spaces. We need places where we come together

Not all of the time, but some part of the time we come together and nobody is connected to the Internet and they can't get connected. Because when the ability to choose is removed, it changes the state of craving.

Not all of the time, but some part of the time we come together and nobody is connected to the Internet and they can't get connected. Because when the ability to choose is removed, it changes the state of craving.