France just became the first EU country to implement a ban on social media for kids under 15. This path goes against the recommendation from the special EU panel, which favors putting the onus on social media companies to protect young people.

Design It For Us@designitforus.bsky.social · 3w ago

An EU special panel just backed the design-first approach over a blanket teen ban, paving the way for the bloc to regulate social media on behalf of young people.

An EU special panel just backed the design-first approach over a blanket teen ban, paving the way for the bloc to regulate social media on behalf of young people.

We just helped pass the NJ Kids Code! “We are thrilled that states like New Jersey are continuing to step up in passing strong legislation targeting social media companies’ harmful design features to enact safety-by-design and privacy-by-default protections for young people.”

N.J. passes one of the strongest Kids Code laws to protect minors online - Pluribus News

pluribusnews.com

Congratulations to New Jersey for taking a critical step forward to protect young people online and hold Big Tech accountable for its exploitative business practices. The New Jersey Kids Code will become one of the strongest Age-Appropriate Design Code laws in the country.

New Jersey can lead the nation in providing privacy-by-default and safety-by-design protections to young people with the NJ Kids Code Act. We urge @speakercoughlin.bsky.social and Senate President Scutari to swiftly pass #A4015 and send it to @mikiesherrill.bsky.social to sign it into law.

Social platforms have spent years promising that young people are safe on their apps. But new research from the Cybersafety Research Center proves their safety features are not working as promised amidst the countless lawsuits Big Tech is facing. 👇🧵

NEW: We sent a letter to @trahan.house.gov from over 100 young people from across Massachusetts urging her to reject state AI preemption in her AI bill. “…we cannot let that spirit of cooperation be exploited as cover for state AI preemption.” In @politico.com this morning.

56% of minors on Snapchat had an unsafe experience on the platform in the last year. With @heatinitiative.bsky.social, @parentstogether.bsky.social & Anxious Generation, we confirmed what young people already know from their experience: this is Snapchat's design, not a glitch.

Meta’s latest Teen Accounts "update" does nothing more than attempt to distract from the flaws of its purported safety protections for young people. Our independent research shows Teen Accounts do not work as promised. We'll continue to hold Meta accountable through our advocacy.

Illinois lawmakers unanimously passed the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act! This is a landmark bill and will create safer social media for young people in Illinois. We’re proud to have worked alongside @govpritzker.illinois.gov, @gonggershowitz.bsky.social, and Senator Preston.

SIS alum @zamaan.bsky.social of @designitforus.bsky.social joins this latest episode of Big World to break down Gen Z's fight for better regulation surrounding AI and social media. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 https://bit.ly/3OKJ0QZ

Episode 91: Gen Z vs. Big Tech

In this episode of Big World, SIS alumnus and tech accountability advocate Zamaan Qureshi joins us to discuss the impact of AI and social media on teen mental health, the push for stronger regulation,...

bit.ly

The strongest AI safety law in the country just dropped! Design It For Us was proud to support and advocate for this bill. Thank you Rep. Didech, @senatoredlyallen.bsky.social, @govpritzker.illinois.gov, and to all of our Illinois advocates and partners who worked on this!

"Our attention is their money." Well said, Mariella. youtu.be/5rplN25jCaU?...

Mariella Ma from Design It For Us explained how setting a boundary is a way to resist

YouTube video by The 'Gander

youtu.be

NEW: Meta has deployed an army of influencer moms and medical professionals to promote its Teen Account safety features. The strategy comes as the company faces mounting criticism—and legal pressure—over its impact on the mental health of minors.

TTP - Meta Deploys ‘Momfluencers’ to Counter Child Safety Criticism

Meta has come under mounting scrutiny over its impact on teen mental health. It’s using Instagram influencers to try to change the narrative.

techtransparencyproject.org

"My voice gets shaky. I ramble. And sometimes I feel like I am out of my depth. But what I do know is that I have a passion for mental health and Big Tech regulation." Our MI State Lead, Mariella, wrote a Substack on being a youth leader in Michigan! designitforus.substack.com/p/stubbed-to...

Stubbed Toes and Sticky Fingers

On being a young advocate in Michigan

designitforus.substack.com

40 percent of the global population now uses Meta on a daily basis. In this new episode of Big World, @zamaan.bsky.social of @designitforus.bsky.social digs into addictive design, AI chatbots, and what the U.S. can learn from the UK and Australia. Listen now 🔗 https://bit.ly/3OKJ0QZ

Episode 91: Gen Z vs. Big Tech

In this episode of Big World, SIS alumnus and tech accountability advocate Zamaan Qureshi joins us to discuss the impact of AI and social media on teen mental health, the push for stronger regulation,...

bit.ly

How do you mobilize people against Big Tech online while living in the digital reality they've created? Our very own Alison Rice, DIFU's Managing Director, breaks it down! www.fwiw.news/p/using-digi...

Using digital platforms, from someone who wants to hold them accountable

Also inside: the California governor's race

fwiw.news

We sent a letter from 100 young Californians to @tedlieu.bsky.social urging him to reject any efforts to add AI preemption to his bill. AI preemption would nullify strong state laws that we've fought for across the country and in CA. punchbowl.news/article/tech...

Tech: Lieu faces increased AI preemption pressure

Some California residents and outside groups are upping the pressure on Rep. Ted Lieu to lock in his latest bipartisan bill on artificial intelligence so it doesn’t get snagged in House GOP efforts to...

punchbowl.news

Not surprising to see that Meta is SO averse to the concept of protecting young people that they'd rather burn it all down. Right.

New York Post @nypost.com · 3mo ago

Meta threatens to shut down Instagram, Facebook in New Mexico if judge orders 'impractical' kids protections

We're proud to endorse the Illinois Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act. DIFU coalition member and IL resident Kash wrote an op-ed in support of the bill! chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/...

I grew up on Zoom and social media. Protect Illinois kids, teens from the dangers of AI

A 19-year-old says common sense legislation proposed in the General Assembly would put accountability in place — before it's too late.

chicago.suntimes.com

@blackskyweb.xyz is among the inaugural cohort of @designitforus.bsky.social Innovators! As a community of founders and builders we share the belief that safety, privacy, and human well-being aren't tradeoffs. In fact, they're what make great products. Read more: designitforus.org/campaigns/in...

Big Tech has had a monopoly on what the internet looks like. Not anymore. Introducing the Innovator Circle.

We’re so excited to see all that @designitforus.bsky.social will accomplish, but they’ll need your support to make it happen. Give them a follow and let’s ensure a safer digital future for all. designitforus.org

Design it For Us

We are young people taking on Big Tech

designitforus.org

You may have heard that our partner, Accountable Tech, is winding down operations and dedicating their resources to ensuring our success as a now-independent project. We’re so thankful for this vote of confidence in youth voice, experience, and expertise. 💙 Let's do this.

it was so great speaking with you. thanks for uplifting youth perspectives!

Tori@buildwithtori.com · last yr.

Thank you for chatting with me @designitforus.bsky.social 🙌🏽 Design It For Us is a youth-led coalition advocating for safer online spaces for minors. Highly recommend everyone drop them a follow! The future is bright ☀️ #skylightsocial #socialmedia

Hi everyone 👋 While we won't be posting on here regularly (for now), we wanted to take a second to introduce ourselves! We're a youth-led coalition using our voices to fight for a better online world. Join our coalition here! designitforus.org/about/#indiv...

About - Design It For Us

Design It For Us is an innovative multimedia effort for young people to share why online spaces should be designed for them.

designitforus.org