Cheating on my Readers
Cheating on my Readers
On an entreneurial rallying call for IRL investment and healthier tech tools
I have committed adultery this week
… by publishing elsewhere. But not just on any publication - Jonathan Haidt’s - who needs no introduction to Antidoters readers. His recent book ‘The Anxious Generation’ was a best-selling grenade thrown into the global debate around kids and smartphones, and his team’s ‘After Babel’ blog is, as a result, much more widely read by tens of thousands of influential readers. Happy is the cuckold, and welcome, new readers!
I wouldn’t want any of my OG followers to miss out, so please find the post below: a rallying call to entrepreneurs and corporations to help bring back childhood. It was a labour of love (hence the quiet here, alongside dragging my children up mountains) - but rest assured I have much more to say.
Writing elsewhere was an interesting process as I found myself mesmerised in real-time by the jumping cursors of 100 successive edits from After Babel contributors I hugely admire (thank you
, , , and especially - and huge thanks to Jon for the kind words in his introduction).Apparently my written-style needs work, with many Jess-isms hitting the cutting floor… which makes sense for a much more academic, research-led publication, but I’ll be glad to get back to mixed metaphors, ellipsis-overuse, superfluous detail and opinionated asides on my own turf.
The result was more considered and well-rounded, albeit already attracting some criticism and cynicism in the comments. Is it wrong to profit from these challenges? Are they/ should they remain out of the realm of corporate influence? What role does social-entrepreneurship have to play in all this? I don’t have all the answers, but I’m happy to kick-start the conversation and those that have opened up since Wednesday (e.g. this one), are already taking these ideas in deeper, more ambitious directions.
I’d also add that whilst After Babel is focussed on children, I do see a huge number of entrepreneurial opportunities for supporting adults too, for whom tech addiction (with its loss of perspective, time and focus) and IRL community disclocation can be just as destructive - to say nothing of the poor example being set for the young.
In my IRL Pledge side-hustle (shaping up to be more like a PhD), I’m seeking to capture as many of the innovators in the ‘digital/ IRL balance’ world as I can with a view towards amplifying their work and connecting dots between great do-ers in this space. I’ve already met and spoken to so many who fill me with hope that we can acheieve a happier, more balanced world. Do please share it with anyone you know of in the space and encourage them to visit/ reach out: hello@irlpledge.com
For new readers, please enjoy this selection of some of my favourite previous posts:
Because amidst all the gloom, doom and online noise, there are antidotes if you look for them. Antidoters assemble!
Exciting times!