What Arthur C. Brooks has said about Social media and adolescent mental health

Brooks recommends avoiding devices in the first 60 minutes of the day for better focus and mood.

“I recommend actually the whole first 60 minutes without the device for neurocognitive programming”

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #695 - Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur Brooks (Nov 11, 2026) · Listen from 29:24

Brooks recommends a phone-free first hour, meals, and last hour, saying life changes within about 42 days.

“First hour, meals, last hour. In 42 days, your life is different”

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #695 - Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur Brooks (Nov 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:26

Brooks argues phones should be banned from classrooms nationwide.

“there shouldn't be, by the way, any phones in classrooms any place in America. That's completely insane”

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #695 - Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur Brooks (Nov 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:31:42

Brooks is optimistic society will solve technology's harms as it did with tobacco and automobiles.

“We figured it out. And we're going to figure this one out too. I'm, I'm super optimistic about that”

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von: #695 - Happiness Expert Dr. Arthur Brooks (Nov 11, 2026) · Listen from 1:32:59