Design It For Us

We filed an amicus brief with Young People's Alliance and Design It For Us in Garcia v. Character Technologies, the case involving the tragic death of Sewell Setzer by suicide last year. We argue that prematurely dismissing Garcia's lawsuit on the basis of the First Amendment is a mistake given the novelty of the case and importance of factual discovery to 1A analysis. Courts have historically declined to dismiss claims at this early stage in other cases involving novel technologies, including in litigation over harmful design practices on social media. Cementing complete protection against liability for potentially serious, harmful conduct without guardrails could leave millions of young people vulnerable. https://lnkd.in/gZWPAWzy

Our Co-Chair Zamaan Qureshi will be speaking on the impact of social media on young people at Berkeley 🙌 This is an-person event on April 7th, 7:00 pm PDT. You can also watch the livestream on The Berkeley Forum's YouTube channel. In person RSVP link: https://lnkd.in/e2ty9TGq

The DemocracyReady NY Coalition's New York Civic Learning Week events are now available to watch! Tune in to our YouTube playlist: https://lnkd.in/eEXjtshh 💻 The 3rd Annual Summit on Civic Readiness, Build a Media-Literate Future: Youth Call for Action 📣 A youth-led conversation about the responsibility of schools, big tech, and media creators in shaping how young people consume and understand digital content. Hosted by members of the DemocracyReady NY youth cohort, this event featured expert insights, engaging discussions, and actionable strategies to support media literacy in an increasingly complex online landscape. NYS Senator Shelley Mayer gave opening remarks. PANEL 1: Navigating Responsibility and Influence in Today's Media Landscape Arielle Geismar, Co-Chair of Design It For Us Kelsey Russell, Media Literacy Influencer and Co-Host of First-Stop News Jack Newsham, Correspondent, National Desk at Business Insider PANEL 2: Prioritizing Media Literacy Education in Schools Dr. Christopher Harris, Director of Library & Digital Services at Genesee Valley BOCES Dr. Shari L. Camhi, Superintendent of Schools at Baldwin Union Free School District Paul Tomizawa, Technology Coordinator, Edgewood Elementary School, Scarsdale Union Free School District Mary Kate Lonergan, Media Literacy Educator, Social Studies Teacher Fayetteville-Manlius CSD 🏛️ The Right to Civic Education: A Conversation with Judge William E. Smith📚 U.S. District Judge William E. Smith who wrote the decision in the Rhode Island right to civic education case Cook v. McKee discussed the case and his views on the importance of civic education with Michael A. Rebell, lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Introduced by andrew e. brennen. 🐄 Media Detectives Crack the Case of Click Clack Moo ⌨️ Using the children’s classic Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type, this fun elementary classroom game involves children working together to find clues and recognize misinformation in media sources. While in this inquiry process they must think critically - read, share and analyze findings - to solve the mystery: exactly how did those cows learn to type? Created by Inquiring Minds Institute’s student Think Tank and filmed at Democracy Prep Public Schools Elementary School. #MediaLiteracy #CivicEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherResource #CivicLearningWeek

Are you a NYC-area university student looking to explore a social impact career? On April 5th from 11-3 at the New York Institute of Technology's NYC campus, there is an ATIHx gathering in collaboration with NYIT you can join (nearly full). REGISTER: https://lnkd.in/ebwRYTR2 This is being led by Abby Fergus, collaborating with NYIT's Jennifer Griffiths. Abby is a Princeton University GradFUTURES Social Impact Fellow at All Tech Is Human. There are speakers and workshops. Some of the speakers include Alayna Kennedy (Manager of AI Governance, Mastercard + ATIH affiliate), Heidi Hysell – Advisor, Founder, Consultant, FUTURE, Tomorrow Mornings, Future Insights + ATIH affiliate), Kathryn Kosmides (Founder & CEO, Garbo), Will Rivera (Director, MyOwnImage), J. Michael Schmidt – Chief Community Scientist, NationBuilder), Anthoni Garcia (CUNY PIT Lab Manager, Roadtrip Nation), and Kendall Schrohe (Organizing Facilitator, Design It For Us). #ResponsibleTech #PublicInterestTechnology

Design It For Us is 2 years old! We're so proud of everything we've accomplished - growing our coalition, driving legislation that improves the lives of young people online, and challenging Big Tech's business model everywhere we can. To donate: https://lnkd.in/eeQwcxd6 To join the coalition: https://lnkd.in/ebWAVbgs

We believe in amplifying young voices and equipping the next generation with critical tools to navigate AI and AI ethics. Design It For Us is proud to be partnering with Innovation for Everyone in celebrating National AI Literacy Day with the #OurVoicesInAI campaign!

Earlier this week, I had the incredible opportunity to testify before the California Assembly’s Higher Education Committee regarding critical fears around submitting the FAFSA due to data privacy and due process concerns, especially within communities of color and immigrant communities. For too many students, the fear of how their personal information could be used has created a chilling effect, discouraging them from accessing the financial aid they need to pursue higher education. No student should have to impossibly choose between their safety and their education. Thank you, Assemblymember Mike Fong, for the opportunity to speak on the urgent need for ACR 40. And thank you to the University of California Student Association, Vincent Rasso, and the Associated Students of the University of California for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our associations!

We're thrilled to be part of this youth-led panel on advocating for a safer online world, ethical storytelling and consent, digital habits, and inspiring positive relationships with technology. Young people are leading the way in shaping our digital world! 💫 Speakers: Maddie Freeman (NoSo November), Emi Kim (LOG OFF Movement), Zamaan Qureshi (Design It For Us), and Yoelle Gulko (Our Subscription to Addiction)

Looking forward to this!

🎉 We have a HUGE announcement! 🎉 Our organization is beyond excited to share that we've been awarded a grant from Young Futures Org and will be participating in the second-ever Young Futures Innovators Cohort, the Under Pressure Cohort. Today’s pre-teens and teens are navigating a unique set of challenges, with technology playing both a supportive and sometimes overwhelming role. Teens are constantly juggling the pressure of social comparison, performance expectations, and the ever-present pull of screens. It’s a delicate balance, and the need for solutions that support their mental well-being and autonomy is more urgent than ever. This award is a testament to our commitment to empowering pre-teens and teens aged 10-19 to navigate the pressures and complexities of growing up in today's tech-driven world. 🌟 This award not only provides us with invaluable funding, but also grants us access to Young Futures Academy. Over the next several months, we’ll benefit from mentorship, Masterclasses led by subject-matter experts, a supportive peer network, and coaching on storytelling and fundraising. This program is designed to sharpen our strategy, strengthen how we communicate our work, and scale our impact—ensuring we can better support pre-teens and teens navigating the unique pressures of growing up in a digital age. 💻 We’re deeply grateful for this opportunity and honored to be part of a larger movement committed to empowering young people in today’s tech-filled world. Together, we’ll help pre-teens and teens build resilience, alleviate the pressures, and thrive in a constantly evolving digital landscape. Stay tuned as we embark on this exciting journey! 🚀 #UnderPressureCohort #DigitalWellbeing #YouthMentalHealth #YFInnovators #YoungFutures