The Right to Disconnect: Ending the Era of Forced Addiction
The Right to Disconnect: Ending the Era of Forced Addiction
Das Problem
Have you ever picked up your phone just to check a message, only to realize an hour has passed in a blur of scrolling? I am just a simple citizen, but recently, I haven't been able to unsee this problem. I see it everywhere. I find myself constantly having to fight not to fall back into addictive habits, and it breaks my heart to see the people I care about struggling with the exact same thing.
We are not lacking self-control. We are losing an unfair fight against a system designed to exploit us. Tech giants have deployed armies of engineers to hijack our attention, pushing us into a state of constant distraction. Why? Because our inability to focus, to be creative, and to think critically makes their monopolies stronger and richer.
Social media should be an amazing tool for free speech, education, and empowering everyday people to make the world a better place. Instead, it is being used to keep us passive. When we are drained and distracted, we cannot fight for the things that actually matter.
This is where we draw the line. We do not want to ban social media. We just want our minds back. We are calling on the European Commission to enact a legal framework that treats addictive digital features with the same caution as hazardous products. I have drafted a detailed policy proposal [Link coming soon], demanding three vital rules for Very Large Online Platforms:
- The Right to Choose (Opt-In by Default): Addictive features (like infinite scrolling) must be turned OFF by default. If we want them, we can choose to turn them on.
- Hold Big Tech Accountable: Expand the Digital Services Act (DSA) to actively assess and block app updates that are psychologically manipulative.
- Honest Warnings: Apps must show clear, standardized safety warnings about the psychological risks of their features, giving us the facts we need to protect ourselves.
Reclaiming our attention is the first step to reclaiming our power as citizens. Please sign this petition to demand that European lawmakers hold tech giants accountable. It is time to take back our minds.
8
Das Problem
Have you ever picked up your phone just to check a message, only to realize an hour has passed in a blur of scrolling? I am just a simple citizen, but recently, I haven't been able to unsee this problem. I see it everywhere. I find myself constantly having to fight not to fall back into addictive habits, and it breaks my heart to see the people I care about struggling with the exact same thing.
We are not lacking self-control. We are losing an unfair fight against a system designed to exploit us. Tech giants have deployed armies of engineers to hijack our attention, pushing us into a state of constant distraction. Why? Because our inability to focus, to be creative, and to think critically makes their monopolies stronger and richer.
Social media should be an amazing tool for free speech, education, and empowering everyday people to make the world a better place. Instead, it is being used to keep us passive. When we are drained and distracted, we cannot fight for the things that actually matter.
This is where we draw the line. We do not want to ban social media. We just want our minds back. We are calling on the European Commission to enact a legal framework that treats addictive digital features with the same caution as hazardous products. I have drafted a detailed policy proposal [Link coming soon], demanding three vital rules for Very Large Online Platforms:
- The Right to Choose (Opt-In by Default): Addictive features (like infinite scrolling) must be turned OFF by default. If we want them, we can choose to turn them on.
- Hold Big Tech Accountable: Expand the Digital Services Act (DSA) to actively assess and block app updates that are psychologically manipulative.
- Honest Warnings: Apps must show clear, standardized safety warnings about the psychological risks of their features, giving us the facts we need to protect ourselves.
Reclaiming our attention is the first step to reclaiming our power as citizens. Please sign this petition to demand that European lawmakers hold tech giants accountable. It is time to take back our minds.
8
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Petition am 24. März 2026 erstellt