Science & Technology

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…

Published

on

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)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:

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 #Technology

22 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.

  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?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Exit mobile version