Dear Big Tech and Lawmakers,

As a Gen Z parent, I see firsthand how deeply my kids and their peers interact with technology. They’ve grown up in a world where social media, AI, and data privacy aren’t abstract concepts—they’re everyday realities. But here’s the thing: they don’t trust you and the impact is beyond everyone’s imagination…. And honestly, I don’t blame them.

That’s why I’m sharing this letter from Gen Z themselves. It’s raw, it’s real, and it reflects what an entire generation is feeling about the platforms they use daily. Their voices matter, and it’s time you listened.

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Hey there! It’s us, Gen Z—the digital natives, the meme lords, the ones who grew up with smartphones practically glued to our hands. You might think we’re just scrolling endlessly through TikTok, but guess what? We’re also paying attention. And, … we have some questions (and a few demands, too).

We Don’t Trust You—And Here’s Why

According to a study by Common Sense Media, our scepticism isn’t just a phase:

• 64% of us don’t think tech companies actually care about our well-being. (Shocker, right?)
• 62% think you’re all about that $$$ ££ and put profits over our safety.
• 53% question whether you can act ethically. (Honestly, we’ve seen enough to doubt it.)
• 52% don’t trust your data security. (We’ve read the headlines.)
• 51% feel like you’re not doing enough for diversity and inclusion.
• 47% don’t think you can handle AI responsibly. (Have you seen some of the AI fails out there?)

These numbers aren’t just us being dramatic. We’re growing up in a world where our data gets hoarded, our feeds are full of misinformation, and AI sometimes goes rogue. Not exactly comforting.

We Deserve Stronger Protections

Different parts of the world are trying to handle privacy in their own ways:

• United Kingdom: The UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 and the Age-Appropriate Design Code (Children’s Code) require tech companies to prioritize children’s privacy, ensuring data minimization and transparency. Cool idea, but how is someone enforcing?
• European Union: GDPR is a solid start, but companies still find loopholes.
• United States: No national privacy law? Seriously?! CCPA and COPPA are nice, but they don’t go far enough.

So tell us—why is it so hard to create laws that actually put us first?

AI is Making Things Even Weirder

We love a good AI-generated meme, but when we use AI for schoolwork and 39% of us find straight-up misinformation, that’s a problem.

• 70% of us want stronger privacy protections for AI.
• 73% want clear labelling for AI-generated content.

We want transparency, not mystery boxes that spit out biased, inaccurate nonsense.

What We Want from You

If you actually care about us, prove it. Here’s how:

1. Be Transparent: No more sneaky data collection. Just tell us what’s happening and we decide how/whether we want to share it.
2. Follow the Law (or Make Better Ones): No more loopholes, please.
3. Use AI Responsibly: Make sure it’s ethical, fair, and not reinforcing harmful biases…and ideologies.
4. Prioritize Our Safety: Engagement shouldn’t come at the cost of our well-being.

The Future is Ours—But You’re Messing With It

We’re the generation that will be using your platforms for years to come. Will you listen to us and actually do better? Or will you sugar coat, entice with influencers, or through peer pressure … ?

Spoiler alert: We want to stay careful. Many of us have been burned, we’ve seen the consequences, and we’re looking out for ourselves and each other.

And we won’t stay silent.

Sincerely,
A Gen Z Teen

Trust Crisis Deepens: US Teens Challenge Big Tech’s Ethics and Privacy Practices