Social media has gotten away from what good technology can do, and people have noticed.” Research that Nallamothu conducted in high school helped convince state senators in Illinois to advance a recent bill to prevent parental exploitation of children on social media and the state to pass a law forcing parents to compensate their kids.
The shift has also been driven by growing anger at tech platforms that have left some in gen Z feeling as if they are being exploited for profit.
Many of these companies are hoping to capitalize on gen Z’s growing weariness about the devices and social media platforms they grew up with.
New event-focused apps are also trying to capitalize on the pivot away from social media.
Tired of fighting for self-control, Moukoudi downloaded Opal, an app that forces users to solve math problems before reopening distracting apps.
“Often the tech companies’ best interests aren’t in the users’ best interests.
The industry is valued at nearly $1bn and is estimated to grow to nearly $8bn by 2035.