STUDENT VOICES
Op-eds written by YPA members shaping the conversation on technology, housing, and the future of young people in America.
13 op-eds from YPA members
Schools Should Help Students Navigate AI, Not Ban It
Akankshya Swain, a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Lira Roome, a senior at Midlothian High School in Virginia, both YPA members, argue that banning AI in schools leaves students to figure it out alone and risks a new digital divide, and that schools should teach students to use it well instead.
By Akankshya Swain & Lira Roome
Stop testing memory, start measuring learning
Hamsini Peri, a rising senior at John Champe High School and member of her school's Young People's Alliance chapter, argues that schools must move beyond a test-driven system that fuels AI dependence, memorization and academic stress by prioritizing assessments that develop critical thinking and real-world skills.
By Hamsini Peri
The Case for Intergenerational AI Advocacy
Arvind Salem argues that AI systems trained on biased data discriminate against both young and elderly people, creating a rare opportunity for these age groups to form a powerful political coalition demanding fair representation in AI training data.
By Arvind Salem
Betting on Crisis: Why Prediction Markets Are a Threat to Democratic Trust
Rachel Ledoux warns that as prediction markets expand from economic forecasting into politics and global affairs, monetizing political outcomes and international crises risks eroding democratic trust and civic engagement.
By Rachel Ledoux
You Can Mute Notifications But You Can't Escape the Algorithm
Sarah Maness, a UNC Chapel Hill student and YPA chapter coach, argues that social media companies have intentionally designed their products to be addictive to young users, and that the problem cannot be resolved until the entire architecture of the platforms is overhauled.
By Sarah Maness
Gen Z Begs Legislators: Make Social Media Social Again
Sparkle Rainey calls on legislators to hold Big Tech accountable with design-based regulations to combat algorithmic feeds, infinite scroll, and addictive platform features that are driving young people apart.
By Sparkle Rainey
Tech giants must protect vulnerable youth from predators
Mansi Peters calls on tech companies to implement stronger protections against fraudulent accounts and sextortion schemes targeting minors, following the tragic death of a Wisconsin teen.
By Mansi Peters
How AI companions are putting young people at risk and what can be done about it
Joshua Brons from UC Santa Cruz explores the dangers of AI companion apps and advocates for stronger protections for young users.
By Joshua Brons
The hidden hunger crisis on UNC campus
Sarah Maness from UNC Chapel Hill sheds light on the often-overlooked food insecurity affecting college students.
By Sarah Maness
Chatbots are harming our children. What can be done?
Atiksh Bhan examines how AI chatbots are negatively impacting young people and proposes solutions to address the issue.
By Atiksh Bhan
California fails to protect families from AI exploitation
Sparkle Rainey argues that California's regulatory approach leaves families vulnerable to AI chatbot manipulation.
By Sparkle Rainey
How housing policy is failing NC's young people
Mick Tobin and Iha Pemmaraju examine how current housing policies are leaving young North Carolinians behind and what can be done to fix it.
By Mick Tobin & Iha Pemmaraju
AI protections for minors will help us beat China
Sam Hiner argues that protecting young Americans from harmful AI is both a moral imperative and strategic necessity.
By Sam Hiner