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How to Escape the Smartphone Doom Loop | Larz May, Elise Hu | TED

Larissa May has spent a decade building digital wellness programs for young people, and she’s discovered something quietly radical: the smartphone doom loop of screen dependence and anxiety isn’t inevitable, and joy (not restriction) is the way out. She makes the case for a different relationship with technology — starting with swapping screens for some…

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Larissa May has spent a decade building digital wellness programs for young people, and she’s discovered something quietly radical: the smartphone doom loop of screen dependence and anxiety isn’t inevitable, and joy (not restriction) is the way out. She makes the case for a different relationship with technology — starting with swapping screens for some analog fun. (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 10, 2025)

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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

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#TED #TEDTalks #Technology

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27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. @apurvcr7

    July 30, 2026 at 11:03 am

    First one hereeee

  2. @Haeladriel

    July 30, 2026 at 11:04 am

    ❤❤

  3. @t__kirti91

    July 30, 2026 at 11:06 am

    Your videos help us alot❤

  4. @meanderinoranges

    July 30, 2026 at 11:07 am

    TED used to be a place I looked to for advice. Now it’s the last place I’d look to for advice. I only come here when I’m looking for a morbid laugh or facepalm.

  5. @windows_down

    July 30, 2026 at 11:17 am

    She practiced this massaged script for a LONG time in the mirror

  6. @jayfaujdar763

    July 30, 2026 at 11:22 am

    very good ideas but i think her accent is fake and it’s irritating

    • @BrassLock

      July 30, 2026 at 11:58 am

      You can getit transcribed and read by AI with a Yorkshire accent if you’d like. Would you prefer that, or a Russian male accent and pretend that Vladimir is speaking directly to you with his awful fake accent.

    • @jayfaujdar763

      July 30, 2026 at 8:38 pm

      ​@BrassLockthanks for the idea

  7. @colditzjb

    July 30, 2026 at 11:22 am

    I’ve seen some bad TED takes on AI recently, so this talk was refreshing to hear. As a dad and a scientist who studies digital health, this is the kind of work that gives me hope. We need more parents (and everyone) advancing these practices.

  8. @daledevernon56

    July 30, 2026 at 11:22 am

    I use technology including AI all the time and personally I don’t think technology is the problem I think it’s what you choose to consume with it that is.

    • @Stricken555

      July 30, 2026 at 12:35 pm

      Bot

    • @daledevernon56

      July 30, 2026 at 12:40 pm

      ​@Stricken555grow up.

    • @87392v

      July 31, 2026 at 12:46 pm

      If you use it regularly, AI makes critical thinking harder (bc you fall out of practice)

  9. @SawlinFerdous-x5m

    July 30, 2026 at 11:24 am

    ❤👍

  10. @BrassLock

    July 30, 2026 at 11:53 am

    That colour orange is very popular with monks and people in jail on remand.

    I’m surprised that American women love it too.

  11. @MileHighDriverGuy

    July 30, 2026 at 12:42 pm

    0:30 The only way you were seeing a psychiatrist every day was if you were admitted to an inpatient unit. 🙄

    Whatever you are selling, I ain’t buying…

    • @357Dejavu

      July 30, 2026 at 1:47 pm

      @MileHighDriverGuy hmm… I missed that but you are correct.

  12. @Avarice7D

    July 30, 2026 at 1:52 pm

    We definitely do not need more monitoring.

  13. @doubleuenbeeeh

    July 30, 2026 at 4:46 pm

    Going to the psychiatrist EVERY DAY????

  14. @ivanpetryk4740

    July 30, 2026 at 4:51 pm

    Watchin it at 2 am

  15. @doubleuenbeeeh

    July 30, 2026 at 4:51 pm

    “their lifes”

  16. @ExistentialWolf

    July 30, 2026 at 7:08 pm

    Hmm. 🌞🌦🌧⛈🌩⚡🌛💡🔥🏜🏝👁😗😘Beyond the spiritual realm of _electronics,_ and all that goes with that school of thought, is the subject of reason. Reason is predicated on your senses: Touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight, direction, and time. A computing device is more than scrolling, however, you accomplish most of the activities by doing so. We understand and posses reason for boundless opportunity. A _simple_ way to avoid the electronic tether is to put it down … and pick up something else – or simply close your eyes. [/😔]…}🌞

  17. @alex-boke

    July 30, 2026 at 8:32 pm

    How is that no one is talking about living under a rock?

  18. @Akakabuto80

    July 31, 2026 at 4:43 am

    ”God controls the world completely.” Then I’m not a fan of your god. Seems to be very sadistic. Or is all bad things happening to eg innocent children somebody else’s fault in a world your god controls all:/

  19. @thomasholmes9184

    July 31, 2026 at 7:54 am

    No wonder AI has no trouble replicating these cringey conversations for fake ads. This was the least human interaction I’ve seen for a while.

  20. @MehmetSanır-q7k2c

    July 31, 2026 at 6:28 pm

    Larissa May offers a crucial perspective on intentional technology use. The real challenge is not just limiting screen time, but reclaiming our capacity for deep reflection and presence in a hyper-connected world. True digital wellness begins when we treat our mind and time as sacred trusts rather than passive consumer goods.

  21. @slowenglishpodcasttv

    August 1, 2026 at 4:03 am

    Great talk! Simple tips like taking an AI-free day once a week are super practical.

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Science & Technology

Learn What VCs Actually Want, From a Founder Who’s Raised $1B l Build Mode

Investors want founders who understand the financial reality of their business. Messy data, misunderstood metrics, or waiting until you’re nearly out of cash to start fundraising can cost founders leverage, valuation, and even a term sheet. In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle…

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Investors want founders who understand the financial reality of their business. Messy data, misunderstood metrics, or waiting until you’re nearly out of cash to start fundraising can cost founders leverage, valuation, and even a term sheet.

In this episode of Build Mode, host Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Sasha Orloff, founder and CEO of Puzzle and Startup Battlefield alum, to talk about what he’s learned from building companies that have raised more than $1 billion collectively.

Sasha breaks down what investors look for during fundraising, which financial metrics founders should know by heart, and why VCs don’t expect your startup to be perfect—they expect you to understand its reality. He also shares how he nearly lost a term sheet because his data room wasn’t ready, how fundraising diligence changes as a startup grows, and why getting your financial house in order can help founders raise with more confidence and leverage.

They get into:
– What raising more than $1 billion across multiple companies taught Sasha about fundraising
– Why investors value founders who have a strong grasp of their company’s financial reality
– The financial metrics founders should know before pitching VCs
How investor expectations change from pre-seed and seed through Series A, B, and beyond
– Why revenue growth and the quality of that revenue are critical fundraising metrics
– How runway, margins, sales efficiency, and profitability factor into investor decisions
– Why waiting until you’re running out of cash can hurt your fundraising leverage
– How Sasha nearly lost a term sheet because his data room wasn’t ready
– Why financial organization and compliance can influence investor confidence and startup valuations
– What founders should have prepared for the due diligence process
– Why VCs don’t expect perfection—and why being honest about what isn’t working can make for a stronger pitch
– How Sasha’s own fundraising and finance frustrations ultimately led him to build Puzzle
– How AI could change the way startups manage accounting and understand their financial health

Chapters:
00:00 – Why VCs Want Founders Who Understand Reality
01:26 – Sasha Orloff’s Journey to Building Puzzle
05:05 – Why Puzzle Started With Startup Founders
08:38 – What Founders Should Know Before Fundraising
11:08 – What Investors Look for During Due Diligence
14:37 – Understanding the Financial Health of Your Startup
17:52 – The Financial Mistakes Founders Make
20:19 – When Startups Need Accountants and Finance Teams
24:04 – How Sasha Almost Lost a Term Sheet
26:10 – The Financial Metrics Founders Should Know Cold
28:20 – Lessons From Raising $1B+ Across Multiple Companies
31:45 – Why Financial Readiness Matters to Investors
33:49 – How AI Is Changing Startup Accounting
37:17 – Inside Puzzle’s Series A With General Catalyst
38:52 – Launching Puzzle at Startup Battlefield
40:38 – Sasha’s Advice for Early-Stage Founders

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Science & Technology

How Satellites and AI Can Protect the Planet | Robbie Schingler | TED

Space technologist Robbie Schingler cofounded a satellite company that images the whole planet every day, making visible changes on Earth. He shows how pairing that data with AI creates a “planetary intelligence” we can use to spot emerging threats we might not have seen otherwise. Now he asks: Can we close the gap between seeing…

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Space technologist Robbie Schingler cofounded a satellite company that images the whole planet every day, making visible changes on Earth. He shows how pairing that data with AI creates a “planetary intelligence” we can use to spot emerging threats we might not have seen otherwise. Now he asks: Can we close the gap between seeing a crisis coming and actually stopping it? (Followed by a note from TED guest curators Divya Siddarth and Audrey Tang) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
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The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Tech #ClimateChange

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CNET

That Voicemail Isn’t Real, It’s AI. The New Wave of AI-Impersonation Scams

Scammers are using AI to impersonate high-profile targets, such as celebrities and politicians. Here’s how you can stay safe. You can find the products mentioned in this article linked below Commerce Link *CNET may get a commission on these offers Link to CNET article: Read more about X on CNET.com: Timecode Chapters: 00:00 The Threat…

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Scammers are using AI to impersonate high-profile targets, such as celebrities and politicians. Here’s how you can stay safe.

You can find the products mentioned in this article linked below
Commerce Link
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Link to CNET article: Read more about X on CNET.com:

Timecode Chapters:
00:00 The Threat of AI Impersonation
01:25 How Deepfakes Are Used in Politics
04:07 The Rise of Hyper-Personalized Fraud
05:42 Testing a Voice Clone on My Boss
07:11 Audio Blind Taste Test With My Sister
11:10 How to Stay Vigilant Against AI Clones

Video Credits:
Host: Katelyn Chedraoui
Scripted by:Katelyn Chedraoui
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Carly Marsh
Video Editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

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