Gen Z, Smartphones and Student Wellbeing, Illustrated by Brian Rea

Brian ReaEditorial IllustrationConceptualHealthcare
Written By Dutch Uncle

Looking at Phone-Based Childhood

“Calming The Anxious Generation” appears in Missouri Baptist University Magazine, Spring 2026.

Written by Reid Davis, with illustrations by Brian Rea.

The article examines how smartphones and social media have affected Gen Z students, with attention on anxiety, focus, sleep, social life, media literacy and campus care.

The main idea connects to the wider discussion around Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation.

Haidt argues that many young people moved from a play-based childhood into a phone-based childhood.

The MBU article applies that argument to university life, where students arrive with habits shaped by constant connection, comparison and interruption. App-tention becomes a subject for teachers, counsellors and students.

Media Literacy and the Attention Economy

The feature explains how social media platforms compete for attention.

Dr. C. Allin Means, professor of Journalism and Communications at MBU, discusses algorithms, AI-driven engagement and the need for students to understand how digital platforms work.

Media literacy is presented as a practical skill. Students are asked to think about who owns digital platforms, how those platforms make money and why attention has become such a valuable commodity.

The article also looks at faith and community. It asks what happens when tools built for speed and distraction take over parts of life that depend on presence, patience and direct conversation.

MBU Cares, illustration by Brian Rea

How MBU Responds

MBU’s response includes academic discussion and student support.

The article covers MBU Cares, a campus-wide initiative led by Dr. Lisa Woodman that helps identify barriers to student success and connects students with resources.

The feature also includes examples of healthier habits, including outdoor activity, in-person friendships and reduced phone dependence.

Brian Rea’s role sits within this editorial setting. His commissioned work gives the feature a clear visual identity while the writing carries the reporting, interviews and educational context.

Further Reading

Dutch Uncle

Dutch Uncle is an award-winning international illustration and animation agency founded in 2006 by Helen Cowley. With offices in London, New York, and Tokyo, we operate across every major timezone, connecting the world's most ambitious brands with exceptional global creative talent.

Over nearly two decades, Dutch Uncle have built one of the most decorated artist rosters in the industry. Our artists have produced Gold Clio and Cannes Lions award-winning work for clients spanning fashion, luxury, fintech, tech, healthcare, and publishing. We have collaborated on prestige illustration and animation projects for global leaders, including Hermès, Burberry, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Rimowa, as well as Apple, Google, Mercedes, Netflix, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, The New York Times.

We represent illustrators and animation directors who lead their fields in conceptual thinking, visual intelligence, and craft. Artists whose work cuts through algorithmic sameness to deliver genuine cultural impact.

Beyond our core roster, we also draw on an international network of talent across five continents to meet the scale and complexity of any brief.

Dutch Uncle operates as a full-service creative production partner, managing everything from artist sourcing and briefing through to licensing, copyright, animation production, and final delivery.

We specialise in complex, multi-market projects that demand creative precision and seamless execution. Whether that is a single editorial commission, a suite of high-impact social media assets, or a global animated campaign.

For nearly twenty years, the world's leading agencies, publishers, cultural institutions, and brands have trusted us to bring their most ambitious work to life.

https://www.dutchuncle.co.uk
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