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Design It For Us

@designitforus.bsky.social
213 followers 6 following 61 posts

We're a coalition of young activists and organizations fighting for safer social media and online platforms for kids, teens, and young adults.

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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 13h
Co Chair Sebastian Mahal: “If OpenAI were serious about protecting young people, it would support strong, enforceable laws that hold AI companies accountable for how they design their products” nypost.com/2026/10/07/b...
nypost.com
Watchdogs slam OpenAI’s claim that teens use ChatGPT less than 15 minutes per day
The company’s blog post did not contain specifics about those data points or how they were determined.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
“Your Attention Please” investigates how social media is designed to hijack our attention and introduces the people rebuilding it differently. Watch now to learn what they discovered. Available now on Apple TV, Amazon, and Doc+. www.yourattentionplz.com/watch
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Deeply disappointing that Sam Altman and OpenAI chose not to show up to a hearing on the harms of their own products. We want answers.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
CA AB 1709 just passed! This bill targets the addictive design features of social media platforms that, at the cost of our wellbeing, maximize users’ time spent online for profit. We urge @governor.ca.gov to sign this bill into law and make history! designitforus.org/press/design...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The proposed terms do not get to the root of the harm: the unchecked collection of personal data that bolsters Meta’s business model and keeps users engaged. We still have work to do. Full statement: designitforus.org/press/design...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
While we commend that the settlement requires accountability and oversight of the company, the $17 billion settlement is merely a drop in the bucket for Meta.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We’re so excited for this. Our Co-Chair Nikki Iyer will be a panelist!
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
29 states have joined together to bring a lawsuit against Meta, fighting to hold the social media company accountable for designing an addictive product for kids and lying about it. www.npr.org/2026/08/18/n...
npr.org
'Profits won.' The child safety trial against Meta kicks off in federal court
Opening arguments are underway in a trial that pits four states against the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. They allege that Meta knew its products could hook kids — and lied about the dange...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
“For more than two decades, they ran their experiment on an entire generation…We were not children; we were data.” Design It For Us coalition member Dawson Kelly spoke outside the courtroom where the landmark trial against Meta kicked off yesterday.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
A recently published study found that AI can generate new viruses using existing DNA structures. This adds to the growing worry that without regulation, AI could contribute to new biological weapons, from deadly poisons to unstoppable pandemics. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/s...
nytimes.com
This A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in Nature
Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Read more about this landmark legislation: designitforus.org/press/design...
designitforus.org
Design It For Us Applauds Passage of New Jersey Kids Code - Design It For Us
We applaud the New Jersey General Assembly for working to take on Big Tech’s exploitative business model and protect New Jersey’s young people online.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
DIFU coalition members helped make this happen: ✅ Testifying before the state legislature ✅ Speaking alongside survivors at a press conference ✅ Meeting directly with legislators
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The NJ Kids Code requires Big Tech platforms to build safety-by-design protections for young people, rather than trying to place that burden on kids and families to protect themselves.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
BREAKING: @mikiesherrill.bsky.social just signed the New Jersey Kids Code into law — one of the strongest age-appropriate design code bills in the country. See DIFU coalition member Saahir Vazirani at the signing ⬇️
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
We already see this shaping legislation like California's AB 1709, moving to allow teens under 16 on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, as long as "addictive" features are deactivated for young users. Read more: subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter/2...
subscriber.politicopro.com
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Our co-chair Nikki Iyer to @politico.com: EU lawmakers should hold companies "accountable at the feature and design level, while not banning access to online spaces."
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
A special panel rejected the Australia-style age ban for teens under 16. Instead, the panel’s comprehensive findings echo what we’ve been saying since our founding: we must put the onus on social media platforms to design their products for us.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
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.”
pluribusnews.com
N.J. passes one of the strongest Kids Code laws to protect minors online - Pluribus News
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
We’re proud of the role we played in this bill’s passage. Our members testified before the legislature, sharing stories about what it's like to grow up in an unregulated social media environment. This is a huge step forward in online protections for young people in New Jersey!
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
These aren't bugs. This is a pattern of platforms overpromising and underdelivering on child safety — all while blaming parents. And in the end, it's young people who pay the price. Read the full report via @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/u...
nytimes.com
Many Child Safety Features on Social Apps Don’t Work, Report Finds
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
And those time limits the platforms celebrate as a way to protect teen mental health? Easily ignored. YouTube, for example, offered teens a button to "ignore limit for today" the moment they hit their 60-minute cap.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
TikTok then suggested follow-up searches like "razer blade skin" and "anna food tips" — common shorthands for anorexia — to teen accounts.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
And platforms that promised to block eating disorder and self-harm content fell short. Researchers got around these blocks by slightly misspelling search terms, like "eating disorser" instead of "eating disorder."
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Among the findings, researchers discovered: 👉Snapchat lets unknown adults send friend requests to kids, and suggests that teens befriend adult strangers 👉Instagram's "suggested follows" for a new teen girl included profiles of adult men
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
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. 👇🧵
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
These aren't bugs. This is a pattern of platforms overpromising and underdelivering on child safety — all while blaming parents. And in the end, it's young people who pay the price. Read the full report via @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/u...
nytimes.com
Many Child Safety Features on Social Apps Don’t Work, Report Finds
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
TikTok then suggested follow-up searches like "razer blade skin" and "anna food tips" — common shorthands for anorexia — to teen accounts.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
And platforms that promised to block eating disorder and self-harm content fell short. Researchers got around these blocks by slightly misspelling search terms, like "eating disorser" instead of "eating disorder."
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Among the findings, researchers discovered: 👉Snapchat lets unknown adults send friend requests to kids, and suggests that teens befriend adult strangers 👉Instagram's "suggested follows" for a new teen girl included profiles of adult men
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
It’s time for @evanspiegel.bsky.social to make Snapchat safe for young people: Sign the petition now: actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-teen-exploitation-abuse-on-snapchat
actionnetwork.org
Stop Teen Exploitation & Abuse on Snapchat
A new study shows that more than half (56%) of teens had an unsafe experience on Snapchat in the last year.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
designitforus.org/press/metas-...
designitforus.org
Meta's Teen Accounts Update Merely Papers Over the Cracks - Design It For Us
Meta’s Teen Accounts Update Merely Papers Over the Cracks New protections don’t fix the design harms at the center of Meta’s courtroom losses Design It For Us co-chair Sebastian Mahal released the fol...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Our statement on Meta's Teen Accounts Update:
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Sign onto our letter demanding that Meta and other Big Tech giants put in place real protections for young people online: actionnetwork.org/petitions/de...
actionnetwork.org
Tell Big Tech: We're Done Being Exploited. Design Your Platforms For Us.
We've been told it's our fault. That we just need to put the phone down, use the settings, and ask our parents for help. But the truth is: Big Tech designed these platforms to exploit us. And they ca...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Statement: designitforus.org/press/design...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Director of Campaigns and Policy @zamaan.bsky.social spoke to @fox32chicago.bsky.social, voicing support for the bill and strengthening the provisions.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
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.
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Reposted by Design It For Us
American University School of International Service @ausis.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
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 🔗 bit.ly/3OKJ0QZ
bit.ly
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,...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Our Statement: designitforus.org/press/design...
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Coalition member Kashyap Rajesh wrote in @chicago.suntimes.com urging for Illinois to take action to protect their young folks online. Glad to see it get done.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
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!
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
"Our attention is their money." Well said, Mariella. youtu.be/5rplN25jCaU?...
youtu.be
Mariella Ma from Design It For Us explained how setting a boundary is a way to resist
YouTube video by The 'Gander
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Reposted by Design It For Us
Tech Transparency Project @ttp-updates.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
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.
techtransparencyproject.org
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.
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Design It For Us @designitforus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
"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...
designitforus.substack.com
Stubbed Toes and Sticky Fingers
On being a young advocate in Michigan
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