Jonathan Haidt

No, but they don't want to be the only one. If we could all give it up, then actually most of them would do it.

No, but they don't want to be the only one. If we could all give it up, then actually most of them would do it.

No, but guess what? There wasn't much objection. There were creators. There were people making money from it. But I was surprised. There was not a youth rebellion saying, no, let us keep— I think you're not on TikTok. And you're not a legislator getting letters about this. Well, right, because TikTok motivated a lot of them to write to their legislators.

No, but guess what? There wasn't much objection. There were creators. There were people making money from it. But I was surprised. There was not a youth rebellion saying, no, let us keep— I think you're not on TikTok. And you're not a legislator getting letters about this. Well, right, because TikTok motivated a lot of them to write to their legislators.

But the point is that when you survey them, they feel trapped and they're looking for an escape. They're just terrified of being the only one. So in theory, I could be wrong and right. we will adapt this. But I think the way you described it, well, no, they're just, you know, they've adapted to it. I would say they've been deformed by it.

But the point is that when you survey them, they feel trapped and they're looking for an escape. They're just terrified of being the only one. So in theory, I could be wrong and right. we will adapt this. But I think the way you described it, well, no, they're just, you know, they've adapted to it. I would say they've been deformed by it.

So there's a sense in which they fit, but they fit not as agents. They fit not as full human beings who are making a future of themselves. They fit as human fodder that has been sucked into the machine and molded to what the machine wants out of them, which is their attention.

So there's a sense in which they fit, but they fit not as agents. They fit not as full human beings who are making a future of themselves. They fit as human fodder that has been sucked into the machine and molded to what the machine wants out of them, which is their attention.

So what you're describing is a path that opened up to prestige. So teenagers are desperate for prestige. And what the social media companies did—and we know this from things that insiders have said— is they hacked that. They said, you know, normally throughout history to become prestigious, you had to become a good archer or a good leader or a good basket weaver.

So what you're describing is a path that opened up to prestige. So teenagers are desperate for prestige. And what the social media companies did—and we know this from things that insiders have said— is they hacked that. They said, you know, normally throughout history to become prestigious, you had to become a good archer or a good leader or a good basket weaver.

You had to do something in the world and then people would respect you and you would gain in social status. That's the way it always used to be. And what social media is able to do is say, you don't have to do anything. Just do whatever it takes to get people to follow you and bingo, you've got prestige. And where does it end? I'll tell you where it ends.

You had to do something in the world and then people would respect you and you would gain in social status. That's the way it always used to be. And what social media is able to do is say, you don't have to do anything. Just do whatever it takes to get people to follow you and bingo, you've got prestige. And where does it end? I'll tell you where it ends.

In one of the most disgusting apps I've ever seen. Well, there are lots of competition, but there's a thing called Famify. And the idea is lots of young people are lonely. They're not able to get followers. They're putting stuff out there. Nobody's watching. Well, that's really crushing. Imagine your nine-year-old not getting any followers. But if you give her Famify...

In one of the most disgusting apps I've ever seen. Well, there are lots of competition, but there's a thing called Famify. And the idea is lots of young people are lonely. They're not able to get followers. They're putting stuff out there. Nobody's watching. Well, that's really crushing. Imagine your nine-year-old not getting any followers. But if you give her Famify...

And Famify will generate as many followers as you want. You want millions? You got it. Millions of followers. And you can see them. You know, they're praising you. They're giving you hearts. So Famify is a way to take what you just said that, oh, well, yes, well, they actually they are searching for a way to be successful without any attention. No need. Just give them Famify.

And Famify will generate as many followers as you want. You want millions? You got it. Millions of followers. And you can see them. You know, they're praising you. They're giving you hearts. So Famify is a way to take what you just said that, oh, well, yes, well, they actually they are searching for a way to be successful without any attention. No need. Just give them Famify.

And this is AI followers? AI followers, that's right. Oh, this is the most Black Mirror shit I've ever heard. Exactly, exactly. And this is why I am so passionate about how we have to move quickly this year, 2025. This is really our last year before AI really has a big impact on life.

And this is AI followers? AI followers, that's right. Oh, this is the most Black Mirror shit I've ever heard. Exactly, exactly. And this is why I am so passionate about how we have to move quickly this year, 2025. This is really our last year before AI really has a big impact on life.

You know, now that we're moving not just from you can know everything to now we have agents, you can do everything. I mean, the internet in a sense gave us omniscience, but now AI with agents is going to give us omnipotence. And that would be horrible for children.

You know, now that we're moving not just from you can know everything to now we have agents, you can do everything. I mean, the internet in a sense gave us omniscience, but now AI with agents is going to give us omnipotence. And that would be horrible for children.