Who Is Pushing Back

Learning Goal: Learn about the growing movement of individuals and organizations working to reform technology and promote digital wellness.

You are not alone in thinking this system needs to change. A growing movement of technologists, researchers, advocates, and young people is pushing back against designed addiction.

The Center for Humane Technology, co-founded by former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris, has been one of the most visible organizations in this space. Their argument is straightforward: technology should serve humanity, not exploit it. They work with tech companies, policymakers, and the public to promote a technology industry that is aligned with human wellbeing rather than attention extraction.

Emma Lembke founded LOG OFF when she was a teenager in Alabama. She noticed the impact social media was having on her own mental health and the mental health of her peers, and she decided to do something about it. LOG OFF is a youth-led movement that advocates for a healthier relationship between young people and technology. Emma did not wait for adults to solve the problem. She started the conversation herself.

The dumb phone movement is another form of pushback. Sales of basic phones, the kind with no apps and no internet, have spiked 148% among 18-to-24-year-olds. Young people are voluntarily choosing less technology, not because they are anti-tech, but because they want more control. Companies like Light Phone have built entire brands around the idea of a phone that does less.

Legislative efforts are happening too. The EU's Digital Services Act, various US state laws around children's online safety, and global conversations about age-appropriate design all represent attempts to change the systemic incentives we discussed in Lesson 1. These are imperfect and slow-moving, but they matter.

Researchers are producing evidence that matters. The studies we have cited throughout this course, about dopamine, about the 30-minute rule, about FOMO prevalence, about structured strategies reducing addiction symptoms by 47%, all come from researchers committed to understanding this problem and finding solutions.

And then there is you. If you have made it to this course, you are already part of the solution. You understand the system. You have changed your own habits. You have the knowledge to help others. The movement needs people who get it and who can talk about it in a way that resonates with their peers.

Exercise: Research one of the organizations or individuals mentioned in this lesson. LOG OFF, Center for Humane Technology, Light Phone, or someone else working in this space. Spend 15 minutes learning about their work. Write a short summary of what they do and what impressed you most. Share it with someone.

Key Takeaway: A growing movement of technologists, researchers, youth advocates, and everyday people is pushing back against designed addiction. You are part of this movement. The more you know, the more you can contribute.

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