Reverse the DOOM Scroll! Protect our children and our future.
We are confronting the profound impacts of excessive technology use, a global issue affecting millions. This has led to lost time, strained relationships, and diminished imaginative capacities. It is imperative that we address this issue proactively by advocating for responsible technological practices in companies that exploit human psychology for profit, while promoting the use of technology with awareness.
To Leaders in Technology and Digital Policy:
The future of our children—a future where they are free to dream, imagine, and aspire—is under threat. The pervasive “Doom Scroll” effect is compromising the mental well-being of our youth. Research, including the 2018 study by Twenge et al., demonstrates a concerning link between increased screen time and rising rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers. With American teenagers averaging seven hours per day on screen media (Common Sense Media, 2019), it is crucial that we act now to protect their mental health and preserve their capacity to dream.
One immediate step we propose is to modify the direction of social media feeds, encouraging users to ‘ascend’ rather than ‘descend.’ Scrolling through content would then be akin to rising in an elevator, promoting a psychological uplift rather than a descent into the digital abyss.
We Request the Immediate Implementation of Article 1, Sections 1.1 & 1.2 of the ‘Technology for the Future: Safeguarding Digital Citizenship’:
Section 1.1: Elevating Scroll Interface
All social media feeds shall adopt an ‘Elevating Scroll’ interface to ensure that content navigation promotes mindful citizenship and psychological upliftment.
Section 1.2: Elevator Effect in Scrolling
1.2.1: Reverse the digital feed to incorporate an elevating scrolling mechanism, mirroring the experience of moving upwards in an elevator. This simple, yet profound adjustment can transform the digital experience from passive consumption to active engagement.
1.2.2: This interactive metaphor is more than just a design tweak; it is a catalyst for positive psychological change, motivating users, especially children, to engage with content that uplifts, educates, and inspires.
By donating and signing the petition, you advocate not only for a change in the digital interface but also for a shift in the digital trajectory of our children’s lives. You support a movement that aims to transform their online experiences into journeys of discovery, learning, and hope.
Join us in making this meaningful change a reality. Elevate our children’s online experiences to safeguard their dreams and empower them to envision a brighter, more hopeful future.
Your vote today can uplift the dreams of tomorrow.
Sign the petition: https://chng.it/F46g4sZ2yb
Recipients:
Platforms:
Google Chrome (Google)
Internet Explorer (Microsoft)
Safari (Apple)
Apps to name a few:
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Meta Platforms (Facebook)
Linda Yaccarino, CEO, Twitter
Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft (LinkedIn)
Adam Mosseri, Co-Founder, Instagram
Bill Ready, CEO, Pinterest
Shou Zi Chew, CEO, TikTok
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