Rock & Roll May Rot my Soul but Won’t Technology Save Me?
“Rock and roll will rot your soul”[1] was a phrase many adults born into the Silent Generation muttered to their children, reflecting their fears that the younger generation’s music would lead them to moral decay, rebellion, and brain rot. It was a warning against what they perceived as cultural chaos and immorality. To them, rock and roll was loud, energetic, and full of defiance, threatening traditionally conservative values and norms. In defiant response, many young people countered with the slogan, rock and roll will save your soul.
I began wondering about the parallels of concern that each generation has for those coming behind them. Whether rock and roll created brain rot is certainly subjective. Still, in The Anxious Generation, author Jonathan Haidt confidently asserts that mental health decline among children correlates with the rise in the use of technology, specifically smartphones. Haidt shares that he didn’t set out to write this book. Instead, he planned to write about “How social media was damaging American democracy.”[2] However, during the research process, he discovered that the “Adolescent story was so much bigger.”[3] His findings revealed that smartphones and social media were unraveling the very foundations of childhood. Children have less unstructured playtime with other kids and don’t explore the outdoors as much as generations before them. As a result, less social interaction leads to a decline in physical development and skills such as conflict resolution, emotional regulation, empathy, and curiosity.
As a Generation X parent with a Millennial son, I aimed to provide him with a better childhood with financial stability, emotional support, and protection from trauma. However, his growing interest in video games, which started as harmless fun, became his main form of interaction. His father, also a gamer, bonded with him this way. I felt uneasy watching them spend hours playing. I worried about exposure to harmful content and other online risks, especially given the plethora of studies highlighting the psychological harm of video games. This fear created tension in my marriage. I was labeled overprotective. It was just a video game, and every generation has its own concerns, just like those who worried about rock and roll causing moral decay and individual brain rot.
Today, I believe my son and his dad were addicted to video games. The gaming wins resulted in dopamine hits. In his book, The Molecule of More, authors Daniel Lieberman and Michael Long discuss the rise in virtual realities in and outside video games. “Virtual reality produces images and sounds that create compelling experiences transporting the participant to beautiful, exciting locations to instantly become the hero of the universe.”[4] They say that through technology, “The human race may go willingly into the dark night, and our dopamine circuits will tell us it’s the best thing ever.”[5]
Thankfully, Jonathan Haidt discovered practical and easy changes that schools and families can adopt that might help ease the growing trend of anxiety and depression among children.
- Don’t allow smartphones before high school.
- Don’t allow social media before age 16.
- Enact a phone-free school policy.
- Cultivate a habit of unsupervised play and childhood independence.
These reforms will protect the vulnerable mental development of children and will help reduce distractions in learning. They will also encourage natural learning patterns that influence social skills, including overcoming anxiety as they become independent young adults.[6]
It’s no secret that each generation’s concerns about the influence of new technologies or cultural trends on younger generations reflect deep-rooted fears about societal change. Whether it was rock and roll, video games, or social media, the potential for adolescent harm is real. However, by adopting strategies like limiting screen time and encouraging independence, we can help protect children’s mental and emotional well-being to promote a healthier future for them.
[1] Palmer, Robert. Rock & Roll: An Unruly History. 1st ed. New York: Harmony Books, 1995.
[2] Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. New York: Penguin Press, 2024. P.289
[3] Ibid. P 289
[4] Lieberman, Daniel Z., and Michael E. Long. The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity-and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race. First trade paperback edition. Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, 2019. P.208
[5] Ibid. P.208
[6] Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. New York: Penguin Press, 2024. P. 15.
About the Author
Jennifer Eckert
Fundraising director, people connector, believer in second chances, fights poverty, supports justice reform, lives a life integrated with Matthew 25.8 responses to “Rock & Roll May Rot my Soul but Won’t Technology Save Me?”
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Hi Jennifer, Thank you for your real-life example of the effects of video games in your home. If you could go back to your son’s teenage years, knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self?
Great question. I wouldn’t change my advocacy for limiting his screen time. I wanted him to spend more time outside, which is healthier for many reasons, and to reduce the risk of video game violence becoming normalized.
Thankfully, he’s well-grounded in distinguishing right from wrong. But when I think about how insular his life has been, I’m reminded of Patrick Deneen’s perspective on the cultural isolation of liberty.
Thanks Jen. What parallels do you see between the generational fears surrounding rock and roll, video games, and smartphones? Do you believe these concerns reflect legitimate risks unique to each era, or are they part of a recurring pattern of anxiety about cultural change?
Both. They are legitimate concerns from each era and this is a familiar pattern. The generations seem to have found ways to work through those issues, especially in mitigating risks and harm. Perhaps that will be the same pattern with AI. There are legitimate concerns but we will work through them to save the good and mitigate the risks.
Jennifer,
I read a book titled Irresistible that discussed technology addiction. The author gave examples of kids in China that are so addicted to games that they wear diapers so that they don’t have to get up and use the bathroom. I myself loved video games but I grew up on an Atari and used the simple joystick. The new controllers confuse me too much, too many buttons, that I don’t get involved.
Your son and husband bonded over videogames, I am wondering if there was an activity that you and your son enjoyed doing together?
Do you see the excessive video game playing impacting your son today?
Diapers – yuck. We hear about those stories of addicted casino gamers. It’s way too much for my occasional interest in a $1 scratch-off.
My son and his dad are still very bonded over video games. They live in different states, so I can see it is good for their connection. And, of course, my son is now 25, so I don’t worry about his understanding of values and norms.
We bonded over things like projects. We built a fire pit in the backyard, painted the house together, and had a garden. I was not yet a Christian, but the values of “community” were rooted in his tribal involvement (Native American dances, etc.). Today, his gaming doesn’t negatively impact him. He has a great job and is extremely loyal to the company, as well as being a helper/nurturer. Probably, my concerns were not necessary, but we always want better for our kids, and for many of those developmental years, I worked in public health, which meant I had access to all the brand-new science.
Thanks for this post Jennifer and your honest assessment of your family’s experience. You mention practical solutions to mitigate the impact of technology on children’s mental health. How do you suggest parents balance the benefits of technology with the need for moderation in their children’s lives?
Hi Jennifer, When I read your post, I imagined you walking your horse, Cupcake, and wearing a “Rock and roll will save your soul” T-shirt. Thank you for sharing about your family experiences, navigating video game addiction, and advocating for your son’s holistic health. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be not to see “eye-to-eye” on technology use with your partner. What might help unify parents walking alongside their children in this digital world?