Chris Murphy

And I think it's OK for leaders to talk about that and to talk about the fact that there are more people waking up every day who don't feel a sense of purpose like they may have 50 or 60 years ago. And I think this is a conversation that either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party could have. But right now, in a vacuum lies opportunity.

That's why I think, for instance, you know, a real robust conversation about the The regulation of technology is therefore the taking, because I do think that folks think that technology is overwhelming their lives. They don't really know which party cares more about protecting them from the rough edges of technology.

That's why I think, for instance, you know, a real robust conversation about the The regulation of technology is therefore the taking, because I do think that folks think that technology is overwhelming their lives. They don't really know which party cares more about protecting them from the rough edges of technology.

And both parties have been corrupted, frankly, by, you know, too close experience politically and culturally with the technology companies. Neither party is really willing to make a break, but there is likely some

And both parties have been corrupted, frankly, by, you know, too close experience politically and culturally with the technology companies. Neither party is really willing to make a break, but there is likely some

a real winning political message in talking about how we can incentivize in-person experience and in-person communion and disincentivize virtual experience, because that's in part what is leading to folks waking up every day and feeling pretty shitty. There's been a 60% reduction in the with friends and companions in the last 20 years. That's extraordinary.

a real winning political message in talking about how we can incentivize in-person experience and in-person communion and disincentivize virtual experience, because that's in part what is leading to folks waking up every day and feeling pretty shitty. There's been a 60% reduction in the with friends and companions in the last 20 years. That's extraordinary.

And giving people a route back to the things that used to make them happy and explaining what role government plays in that, I think is an important policy discussion and probably a winning political discussion.

And giving people a route back to the things that used to make them happy and explaining what role government plays in that, I think is an important policy discussion and probably a winning political discussion.

Yeah, I agree with you that it's a distinct problem.

Yeah, I agree with you that it's a distinct problem.

I mean, when I think about the factors that contribute to this spiritual unspoolingness and happiness in America, I mean, I'm sure I don't have it right, and I'm sure I'm missing things, but I think about one bucket, which is a loss of economic control and agency over your life, one bucket that is loneliness and disconnection from community, one bucket that is just frustration with technology and how a handful of

I mean, when I think about the factors that contribute to this spiritual unspoolingness and happiness in America, I mean, I'm sure I don't have it right, and I'm sure I'm missing things, but I think about one bucket, which is a loss of economic control and agency over your life, one bucket that is loneliness and disconnection from community, one bucket that is just frustration with technology and how a handful of

elites are winning and everybody else is losing. And then the last being a real frustration with market fundamentalism and a replacement of consumerism for citizenship. And so the technology bucket is its own bucket. And there lies some fairly easy fixes. The first thing that government could do is just make it a lot harder for for your kids to get addicted to the algorithm.

elites are winning and everybody else is losing. And then the last being a real frustration with market fundamentalism and a replacement of consumerism for citizenship. And so the technology bucket is its own bucket. And there lies some fairly easy fixes. The first thing that government could do is just make it a lot harder for for your kids to get addicted to the algorithm.

And if less kids were addicted to the algorithm, then when they turn 18, I think they'd at least have a fighting chance because they would have spent a lot more time learning how to build friendships and create conversations and talk to strangers when they were kids. But this also speaks to the lack of control that a lot of people feel today.

And if less kids were addicted to the algorithm, then when they turn 18, I think they'd at least have a fighting chance because they would have spent a lot more time learning how to build friendships and create conversations and talk to strangers when they were kids. But this also speaks to the lack of control that a lot of people feel today.

One of the primary ways that parents feel out of control is that they have no idea what's going on when their kids are up in their bedroom looking at their phones. So government could play a really simple role here. We could say no child under 13 should be on social media and we're going to have strict age verification.

One of the primary ways that parents feel out of control is that they have no idea what's going on when their kids are up in their bedroom looking at their phones. So government could play a really simple role here. We could say no child under 13 should be on social media and we're going to have strict age verification.

The algorithm cannot turn on until you become 18 years old and that we would hold the companies responsible for building verification systems. And if we saw widespread abuse of those systems, that those companies could be held accountable. That would first just put more kids in touch with each other. It would get them off their screens, and that would be good for kids.