From Freud to Zuckerberg and Back, the first book for adults from Storywell Books, asks parents and policymakers to consider the mental health of children first. For thousands of years, children have managed to grow, survive and achieve what they and their parents wished for without any external influences aside of family, community and other socio-cultural entities. Into this secure world, globalisation, IOT and AI have introduced extraneous and unhealthy elements like video games, meta platforms and mobile phones, creating a misunderstanding of ‘Reality’ for today’s children. This book is a call to return to the traditional outdoors play, listen to real bird calls, experience real seas, sands and sunshine, rain and stop the overuse of electronic gadgets that have zombified youth and led people to behave like computers.
Author Malavika Kapur is Visiting Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISC campus Bengaluru and specialises in the mental health of children.