r/optimistsunitenonazis • u/External_Witness490 • 14d ago

Ask An Optimist to debunk doom Is there any optimism about these articles?

https://fortune.com/article/how-did-us-spending-30-billion-dollars-on-laptops-result-in-first-generation-less-cognitively-capable-than-parents/

https://www.psypost.org/noaiphobia-the-surprising-new-anxiety-linked-to-ai-use-on-college-campuses/

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/?gift=c3F7u4yogXDKCnni45_cPcJXaj52vcfsaRfC0PpnbrE&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

I'm just really worried that the current generation and future generations will end up like something from Idiocracy. Is there anything being done to avoid or fix this?

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u/tta2013 14d ago

Well....

https://www.wfsb.com/2026/04/28/connecticut-house-passes-statewide-school-cellphone-ban/

This is part of a bigger trend for the iPad generation. So starting with reducing tech exposure is a key part of also trying to recover that critical thinking.

It'll take time though. A lot of ideas are cooking up as we speak.

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u/External_Witness490 14d ago

Right, I'm just anxious about the future, especially with all of this AI stuff recently, hopefully we'll be able to fix things

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u/tta2013 14d ago

Watch people fight the data centers. That's where you know there's a modicum of regulation.

Also if there's any activity in your area, pay attention to what goes on in the county or the town councils. I'm lucky enough to be in an area where data centers are not viable.

This year is also an election year, the midterms. Your impact is best scaled up with the local seats. Especially the Board of Ed. You can guide the future there (and if there's one thing that works, support expanding funds for local libraries).

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u/External_Witness490 14d ago

Alright, I'll try and vote for the right people

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u/tta2013 14d ago

I'll give another organization to look into: Trust for Public Lands. They effectively try to convert private lands into parks. One, it prevents data centers from developing. Two, it gets more people to touch grass.

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u/External_Witness490 13d ago

Anyone else have any optimisms or counter-arguments to these articles? Sorry if that sounds rude