The Tech Industry's War on Kids

In this article for Medium, child and adolescent psychologist Richard Freed explains how a “virtually unrecognized merger between the tech industry and psychology” is “reshaping childhood” and tearing families apart. Chronicling how this alliance of psychology and tech came about, Freed describes the rise of “persuasive technology,” which pulls users into their devices and away from the real world. Because their brains are still developing, persuasive design techniques are especially effective with children.

Noting that most parents aren’t aware of how persuasive design exploits children’s psychological vulnerabilities, Freed calls for transparency. He asks important moral questions about using these techniques, and he recommends regulating their use with children. He specifically calls on the psychology profession to lead the way by making a public statement against the “exploitive use of persuasive design.” For more on the topic, check out our letter to the American Psychological Association calling for change.

Richard Freed, Ph.D., is a child and adolescent psychologist, a leading authority on raising children in the digital age, and author of Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age. To learn more, visit RichardFreed.com.

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