"My generation wishes we didn't get social media so young. Everyone regrets being allowed to access these platforms. Everyone wishes their parents put more restrictions on their phone. Everyone wishes that they got to enjoy a more carefree childhood."

At 20, Maya Englehorn reflects on getting her first smartphone when she was a freshman in high school, but being allowed on Instagram – via tablet – at age nine.  Back then, Instagram was simpler - no ads, sponsored posts, or TikTok-like reels. Even so, she wishes her parents had also delayed her social media use.

What started as a college project on the mental health impacts of tech helped Maya see the dangers of tech for children. Her conviction led her to join Wired Human Youth Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness on digital harms and amplifying youth voices in political advocacy. The more she learns, the more she understands how social media highjacks childhood innocence.  

With Wired Human Youth Coalition, Maya helped lead a survey exploring the effects of social media on high-school and college students. Their findings point to the addictive nature of social media and a clear link between time spent online and increased anxiety, depression and guilt.  Tune in as Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death unpacks the data – and hear Maya’s compelling take on Gen Z growing up in a digital world.

Maya Englehorn is a Junior at Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee, studying Global Leadership and Business Administration. 

Maya is actively involved in the Wired Human Youth Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting discussions on online harms and mental health with a focus on empowering young voices to lead the conversation in political advocacy.

Over the past year, she conducted a survey exploring the impact of social media on high school and college students. In February, she presented her findings at the U.S. Capital Roundtable on Kids Online Safety, calling for stronger digital protections.

Maya is committed to being a voice of hope for her generation, aiming to pursue a path addressing today's most pressing challenges. After graduation, she hopes to build a career at the intersection of global development and social impact, working to empower communities and contribute to lasting, meaningful solutions worldwide.

Connect with Maya on LinkedIn here.