Gabriela Nguyen began the “appstinence” movement, which involves “abstaining” from using apps such as social media, gaming, and more. Nguyen shares that she wasted hours every day using apps before deciding to completely quit them for good. She now only uses her phone to call and text, “abstaining” from all social media.

Social media are websites which allow people to make profiles and connect with others they know in real life, as well as celebrities, influencers, and strangers. These include Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube, and more. The authors present social media as a giant advertisement scheme in which advertisers pay social media companies to include their ads and sponsored content amongst people’s profiles. Haidt and Price also emphasize the dangers of fake profiles, bullying, distracting notifications, and feelings of self-judgment some people experience when using social media.

The authors call the inventors and CEOs behind tech companies “tech wizards,” comparing them to fairy-tale villains who exploit others for their own benefit. Haidt and Price claim that tech wizards are mostly motivated to make more money, even while knowing that their products harm kids: “It’s the wizards who need you. Think about it: The tech wizards make their money by getting people to spend time on their apps and devices. If people stopped spending so much time on apps and devices, the tech wizards would make a lot less money” (126).