The First Third is a new think tank by, and for, the people growing up now.
The First Third came about as the response to two different generational perspectives on the world. Joe’s anger and bewilderment as he saw young people so causally ‘“fed to the wolves”of social media and vape companies while governments seemed too powerless or captured by business to stand up for them and Hilary’s frustration that her 30 years of activism alongside so many others on responsible business and innovation has had so little impact on the design and introduction of AI.
Its initial focus is a response to our joint 3 year research programme mapping the process and impact of 10 business sectors whose business model is to undermine our ability to control our use of their products beyond the point at which it harms us - mirroring the NHS definition of addiction. This Addiction Economy is now shaping the brains and lives of children and young people in particular from babyhood onwards and is doing real harm, often in quiet but insidious ways which go unrecorded.
At the same time, the places where young people could connect and just hang out with each other - youth centres, libraries, arts venues - have been systematically gutted. Real human connection, intergenerational and with peers, provides the neurological counterweight to addictive products that young people need most to thrive. It’s also what they say they most want.
Our mission is to dismantle the addiction economy and build the modern connection economy to help children and young people flourish throughout the first third of their lives.
Our work
We do two things. First, we produce independent research for policymakers, young people, parents and others to explore how best to dismantle the addictive environment, and create a connective environment focused on helping young people in every part of the UK to thrive and enjoy life, and what it would take to make that happen.
Young people themselves will shape that research and co-create ideas and solutions - their perspectives, voices and lived experience anchor everything we do.
Second, we want to give young people the information and space they want and need to understand these impacts and create empowering alternatives for themselves. Our research shows how blame and ineffective ‘Just Say No’ approaches are entrenched in media, education and social discourse resulting in further anxiety and self-blame, young people feel this unfairness and want to help each other too, not top down, but peer-to-peer.
If you would be interesting in funding our work, or would like to know more, contact Joe Woof on joe@thefirstthird.org
To know more about The Addiction Economy and The Connection Economy see our microsite www.theaddictioneconomy.com, a synopsis of our forthcoming book is here To know more about SocietyInside who initiated and funded this research go to www.societyinside.com