Design It For Us
@DesignItForUs
Coalition of young activists and organizations advocating for safer social media and online platforms for kids, teens, and young adults. #DesignItForUs
With millions of teens using Instagram and being automatically placed into Instagram Teen Accounts, we wanted to see if these accounts actually create a safer online experience. Check out what we found.
this is exactly what happens when companies put profit over communities. big tech has much to answer for, including their ever-increasing impact on the environment. nytimes.com/2025/07/14/tec…
.@DesignItForUs is proud to sign on in opposition to this disastrous AI moratorium
Today, Common Sense Media, @EncodeAction, @NCOSE, @ncypalliance, @fairplayforkids and 170 organizations sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to not revive the AI moratorium. See the full letter here: bit.ly/AISafetyLetter
AI is *already* having a profound impact on young people. We must to ensure these technologies are built with our wellbeing in mind.
Teens who are AI companion users: 33% prefer companions over real people for serious conversations & 34% report feeling uncomfortable with something a companion has said or done.
This will only become increasingly common. In addition to mitigating the harms of AI, we also need to create more community spaces for young people irl.
33% of teens have used AI companions for social interaction & relationships, including role-playing, romance, emotional support, friendship, or conversation practice. 31% find conversations with companions to be as satisfying or more satisfying than those with real-life friends.
"We can't just build tools for young people, we have to build tools with young people." You can count on Zamaan to bring a youth perspective to these conversations. Thanks for having us @childrenscreens!
Thanks so much to @childrenscreens for having me and for the great discussion with Katie Davis, EdD, Alexis Hiniker, PhD, and Medha Tare, PhD.
huge props to @EncodeAction and @ncypalliance for their work to block the ten year ban on state and local ai regulation! #archewell #AI archewell.org/news/safety-by…
Our Organizing Director, Isabel Sunderland: “Unfortunately, we’ve lost a key thread when we’re talking about these platforms, and it’s the youth voice." We need to be an integral part of how these platforms are shaped. Our wellbeing is on the line. kctv5.com/2025/07/11/wor…
Watch this episode from ZETA, where Organizing Director Nick Plante shares his journey from researching social media use to organizing for tech accountability. Such a good conversation. m.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZ7F7…
PRESS RELEASE: Design It For Us Statement on Senate’s Rejection of AI Moratorium designitforus.org/press/design-i…
Thank you to Senator @MarshaBlackburn for opposing the moratorium and advocating for the state protections guaranteed for young people online. @DesignItForUs is grateful! The fight goes on until we stop the state AI ban.
🚨 Blackburn is backing off the AI deal. New statement from her: “While I appreciate Chairman Cruz’s efforts to find acceptable language that allows states to protect their citizens from the abuses of AI, the current language is not acceptable…”
🚨 Young people shouldn’t be collateral damage in Big Tech’s AI rush. The Blackburn-Cruz “compromise” leaves loopholes that could weaken laws meant to protect us and block justice for those already harmed. axios.com/pro/tech-polic…
🚨 Young people shouldn’t be collateral damage in Big Tech’s AI rush. The Blackburn-Cruz “compromise” leaves loopholes that could weaken laws meant to protect us and block justice for those already harmed. axios.com/pro/tech-polic…
I agree with this analysis. On the kids safety front — and as the authors note — this amendment likely **weakens** states’ ability to protect young people online, creating an undue burden. The AI moratorium must be removed. Full stop.
Interesting reax to Blackburn/Cruz AI deal from @MackenZ_arnold raises Qs about whether it’ll actually exempt IP, if it will actually overrule some laws the old one wouldn’t. Just one quick analysis/there’ll be lots more law-ai.org/the-ai-morator…
🚨 Early analysis says this deal might actually endanger the child safety laws it meant to protect & make it even harder for parents whose kids have been harmed by tech to seek justice. When we "move fast & break things," kids die. We need to hit the brakes on the AI moratorium.
👀 Scoop: Blackburn and Cruz reach AI pause deal @m_ccuri reports: axios.com/pro/tech-polic…
We're honored to be featured in the Diversity in Action magazine! @divinaction "Where we can continue that kind of effort to bring together multi-stakeholder coalitions to advocate for young people online, we will absolutely do that." 🔥
“Our future selves will thank us when we have safety, privacy, and autonomy in our digital experiences.” Kaitlynn Cherry, a Design It For Us advocate, was pivotal to the successful passage of the Vermont Age Appropriate Design Code. Go Kaitlynn! mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-new…
