David Monahan of Fair Play testifies on harms of ed tech and addictive design

Good afternoon.

I'm David Monahan, campaign director at Fair Play.

We're a national nonprofit organization that works to enhance children's well-being by eliminating the exploitative and harmful practices of marketers and big tech.

We're an independent voice.

We do not accept funding from tech companies or any other corporation.

I submit this testimony on behalf of the thousands of our supporters who reside in New York City.

I live in Massachusetts, but I'm a native of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, a proud product of the New York City school system, including Abraham Lincoln High School.

I want to thank Chair Stinowitz and Krishnan for holding this important hearing.

You know, in our work nationwide, we have been inspired by a wave of passionate advocates who have succeeded in changing the narrative on screens and ed tech in schools.

Parents, educators, and advocates here in New York have supercharged that movement and are showing every day that we can and will put the well-being of children and teens ahead of the profits of corporations

with the help of leaders like the members of this body.

They played an important role in advocating for bell-to-bell phone-free schools across New York State, which is removing the distraction of smartphones from classrooms and lunchrooms.

The AIM Coalition played a pivotal role in demanding protections from the encroachment of generative AI into education, and in part they were armed with a letter.

led by Fair Play and signed by experts from across North America saying we needed a moratorium until we learn better about the impacts of AI in education and kids' well-being.

The result last week, the mayor announced that city students will be protected by a broad moratorium, and we've discussed today that we also need to go and take

further steps.

Parents and advocates are here today to say there is more work to be done.

Studies have shown correlations between increased time spent on digital devices and declines in children's mental health, including anxiety, depression, isolation, attention deficits, and addiction.

One-to-one devices in classrooms have been associated with weaker learning outcomes and are exposing students to manipulative sites which monopolize their attention.

The verdict in the KGM case in California this spring established Google intentionally designed YouTube with addictive engagement mechanics.

How can we possibly allow students to stare at YouTube in school or on school-issued devices?

And unproven gamified learning tools are designed to make kids stare at the screen for hours and then nag their parents to purchase upgrades.

But they're not designed to educate or pique a student's curiosity.

We urge the DOE to put mandates in place to take the next important step in making New York City schools effective and safe learning environments.

Thank you.