Designing a Humane Future Episode 9, Part 1: Rebooting Social Media and Shaping AI
6 snips
Aug 21, 2025 Join Kara Brisson-Boivin, Director of Research at MediaSmarts, and Stuart Duncan, Founder of Autcraft, as they delve into the intersection of social media and mental health. They discuss how platforms like TikTok can both empower marginalized youth and pose risks. The conversation explores the importance of digital literacy, with initiatives teaching teens to fact-check online information. Also, they highlight the need for inclusive technology design, exemplified through customizable gaming experiences in Minecraft, to foster safer online communities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Youth Curate Platforms For Different Needs
- Young people primarily use social media to connect and curate different relationships across platforms.
- They choose specific apps for family, friends, or identity exploration and manage them intentionally.
Short Videos Drive Mental Health Discovery
- Teens use TikTok to find mental health information and to name their experiences.
- That content often empowers them to seek clinical help or to self-identify conditions like ADHD.
Autcraft: A Safe Minecraft Refuge
- Stuart Duncan built Autcraft, a moderated Minecraft server with an approval process and active monitoring.
- Parents report children learn to read, write, socialize, and some have been supported out of suicidal crises.