Treaty of Middelburg
I’d force tech companies to show us their playbook—literally. Imagine if TikTok had to display a warning like: “This app uses 23% more viral dance videos than educational content to keep you scrolling.” Three concrete changes: Add “Mental Health Taxes”: If Instagram’s algorithm gives a teen an eating disorder, Meta pays for their therapy. Redesign Apps for Boredom: Replace infinite scroll with daily time limits and grayscale modes after 9 PM. Global Digital Literacy Bootcamps: Teach kids how algorithms work—like showing Indian farmers how YouTube’s recommendation system pushes divisive political content.
Team members
- ■ Rahul Choudhary
Why do you want to participate?
Participating in this conference feels like joining a global resistance movement against the subtle tricks Big Tech plays on our minds. Growing up in India, I saw how WhatsApp rumors fueled real-world violence, and now in the Netherlands, I watch friends lose hours to TikTok’s endless scroll. This event matters because it’s a rare space where 200 young people from different cultures can swap stories and strategies about reclaiming our attention. I’m excited to brainstorm real solutions—like maybe creating “algorithm-free” social media zones—and turn those ideas into an actual treaty that governments can’t ignore. Plus, meeting others who’ve had their sleep ruined by YouTube autoplay? That’s solidarity!
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom today is about controlling what you pay attention to. It’s the ability to choose a career your parents don’t approve of and to scroll Instagram without getting sucked into a 2-hour loop of “perfect life” posts. I’ve felt unfree buying things I didn’t need because Amazon kept showing me “Frequently Bought Together” items. Real freedom means platforms can’t manipulate your insecurities—like how Instagram pushes diet ads after you search “gym.” It’s about walking through a digital world where your choices are truly yours, not shaped by some Silicon Valley engineer’s profit goals.
What are the biggest challenges?
We’re fighting three invisible wars: The Attention Heist: Apps use casino tactics to steal our time. Snapchat Streaks guilt-trip you into daily check-ins, while YouTube’s “Up Next” autoplay turns a 5-minute video into a 3-hour binge. Reality Distortion: Algorithms trap us in filter bubbles. My cousin in India thinks COVID vaccines have microchips because of WhatsApp groups, while my Dutch roommate only sees climate change memes that downplay the crisis. The Comparison Trap: Platforms profit by making us hate ourselves. TikTok’s beauty filters have my 16-year-old sister using skin-lightening creams, and LinkedIn turns career anxiety into a competition for the most “skills endorsements.”
Do you have a message?
Create “Slow Social Media” (like slow food!): A platform where posts disappear after 24 hours, ads are banned, and you can only scroll for 15 minutes/day. Algorithm-Free Zones: Public spaces (libraries, parks) with WiFi blockers so people can’t use addictive apps. Corporate “Time Theft” Lawsuits: Let users sue apps for manipulative design—like when Tinder’s “Someone likes you!” notifications trick you into paid subscriptions.
