Dr. David Katzenstein

Teenage mental health has been steadily deteriorating since 2007, coinciding exactly with the dawn of the smartphone era. Today, suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents, with alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation, especially among teenage girls. This isn’t mere correlation—recent research confirms a direct causal link between excessive technology and social media use and the sharp decline in teenage mental well-being.

This talk explores how constant digital stimulation and artificial validation:

1. Hijack the adolescent brain
2. Drives addictive behaviors
3. Erodes real-world relationships

By relying on screens for answers and validation, teens—and even adults—are losing trust in their instincts, feeling increasingly anxious and disconnected. Join us to uncover the science behind digital addiction, the subtle ways technology reshapes our identities, and practical strategies parents and educators can use to reclaim the mental and emotional health of the next generation.