Intelligence Squared presents
Smartphone Nation, with Dr Kaitlyn Regehr
The ‘Smartphone-free Childhood’ movement has alerted many of us to the dangers inherent in our – and our kids’ – use of devices. But while we can shield children from technology in their early years, withdrawing from the online world is not an option for most of us in adult life. So how do we ensure that we – and our children when they grow up – develop a healthy relationship with smartphones and don’t become addicted to mindless scrolling and harmful consumption?
On May 15, Professor Kaitlyn Regehr – one of the world’s foremost experts on digital literacy – comes to Intelligence Squared to set out the science of smartphone addiction. She will provide a practical guide for taking advantage of the good things the internet has to offer while giving advice on how to avoid its darker side. Regehr will discuss how to think critically in a digital environment that is constantly seeking to harvest your attention and how to understand misogyny, pornography, politics, body image, advertising and violence online.
Join us for an evening of insight and ask your questions in the audience Q&A.
Dates
13 May 2025Dr Kaitlyn Regehr
Professor and the Programme Director of Digital Humanities at UCL. Her new book is Smartphone Nation.
Associate Professor and the Programme Director of Digital Humanities in the Department of Information Studies at University College London. Her research is focused on the cultural impacts of social media, particularly on children and youth. She has produced and served as a topic specialist on documentaries for BBC News, BBC Women’s Hour, Channel 4 and the Economist. Dr Regehr holds a doctorate from Kings College London.