Inside the Luddite festival harnessing Gen Z's rage against Big Tech

On a Sunday evening in the middle of Tompkins Square Park in New York City's East Village, hundreds of people gather in front of a giant papier-mâché face of a woman wearing a crown. She's the backdrop of a play, her body made up of curtains that look like a dress but serve a dual purpose, allowing actors to scurry on and offstage. I'm here to watch a performance called 'Luddite Recreations,' which is a history of the Luddite movement—a group of artisans and textile workers who resisted the adoption of machines during the early years of the Industrial Revolution in England and whose resistance to being displaced from their work was met with violence by the British monarchy.

It's one of the opening events of the Summer of Ludd, a weeklong series of talks and activities like how to flirt and date offline, mending, and learning to fight against data centers, all focused on getting people off their phones and into community. The Summer of Ludd festival is tapping into a growing sentiment among Gen Z and younger millennials who are increasingly disillusioned with the role of technology in their lives. This demographic is driving a movement towards digital detox and a renewed emphasis on community and human connection.

The Luddite movement, which emerged in the early 19th century, was characterized by its resistance to the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. The Summer of Ludd festival is using this historical context to frame its own resistance to the dominance of Big Tech in modern life. Why this matters: The Summer of Ludd festival represents a growing backlash against the tech industry's influence on society.

As Gen Z and younger millennials continue to express their discontent with the role of technology in their lives, businesses and developers will need to adapt to changing consumer expectations. This may involve prioritizing digital literacy, online safety, and the development of more responsible AI technologies. However, the long-term implications of this movement remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether it will lead to meaningful changes in the way technology is designed and used.

One thing is certain, though: the conversation around technology's impact on society is only just beginning, and the Summer of Ludd festival is an important part of that conversation.