This Luddite Puppet Hopes You’re Not Reading This on Your Smartphone
A puppet named Gowanus serves as the media representative for the 'Summer of Ludd' movement, which advocates for reduced screen time and resistance to Big Tech. The movement is gaining traction among Gen Z, who are seeking more authentic, offline experiences.
Why it matters
The rise of modern Luddism among digital natives highlights a growing cultural pushback against the ubiquity of smartphones and constant connectivity.
Made of literal garbage—his origin story is that he was born in a dumpster in his namesake neighborhood in Brooklyn—he’s the media representative for the Summer of Ludd, a Luddite festival that took place in New York earlier this month.
The festival, which WIRED attended, included everything from workshops on how to flirt IRL to an evidence box, where people could submit testimonies on how Big Tech has negatively impacted their lives. Its rules were simple: Be present. No phones, recordings, or photographs allowed.
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