What does it take to build a digital world that actually serves the people in it?

On March 31, we partnered with Paradigms and The Attention Studio to host a timely evening with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Since the release of his New York Times bestseller, The Anxious Generation, Haidt has fundamentally reshaped how we think about kids and screens — leading to social media bans, phone-free schools, and the age-gating of platforms. But is that the digital world young people actually want?

This special event featured Haidt in conversation with Ava Smithing, Gen Z host of Left to Their Own Devices, for a discussion about what changes when young people get a say in the laws that shape their digital lives.

Following a live audience Q&A, attendees were invited to a community organization showcase featuring ways to get involved with the groups working on the front lines of digital rights, online safety, youth advocacy, tech accountability, and public-interest technology.

We are grateful to our partners at The Waltons Trust for supporting this event.

Thank you to the following organizations for joining our community showcase: Tribela, Berkman Klein Center, Strother School of Radical Attention, The Parents' Network, Parents RISE, Newsreel, Design It For Us, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Light (The Light Phone), Missed Connections, #HalfTheStory, NoSo, ReThink Citizens, Young People's Alliance, Encode, The Human Line Project, Tech Justice Law, Dumb.Co, Heat Initiative

Event Program:

6:00pm Doors Open

6:30pm Opening Remarks, Lennon Torres

6:40pm Conversation, Jonathan Haidt and Ava Smithing

7:30pm Audience Q&A, Helen Hayes

8:00pm Community Organizations Showcase

Download the event photos here. Photographer: Johnny Makes.