Built to Addict: How Silicon Valley's Secret Science Is Stealing Childhood (with Richard Freed, PhD)

What if the very tech your kids use every day was designed to hijack their minds? In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, child psychologist Dr. Richard Freed exposes how Big Tech is using persuasive design to keep kids hooked on social media and video games—no matter the cost to their mental health. He dives into the psychological tricks baked into these platforms, the skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression in kids, and the chilling truth: tech insiders know the damage and still push these products on your family. Dr. Freed pulls no punches as he reveals how schools, nonprofits, and even “educational” programs are often quietly influenced by industry money. He calls out the disturbing double standard between how tech elites protect their own kids—and how the rest of us are left to deal with the fallout. If you're a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about kids, this conversation is your call to action. Dr. Freed shares real, practical steps to fight back, reclaim your child’s well-being, and build stronger connections that matter more than likes, streaks, or screen time. Get Richard's book here: Better Than Real Life: How Silicon Valley's Secret Science of Persuasive Design is Stealing Childhood Richard Freed, PhD, is a psychologist, author, and his insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets. He has dedicated his professional life to unmasking how Silicon Valley has joined forces with leading psychological experts to create the powerful science of persuasive design that is stealing a generation of youth away from the real world to live on social media, video games, and online video. He advocates that a science-based childhood focused around the real-world activities of family, school, and the outdoors must be made available to all children. Dr. Freed lives in Walnut Creek, California and is the proud father of two daughters.