The Need for an Agentic Mindset in Technology

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of helping young people develop an agentic mindset when it comes to technology. When we think about education and technology, we often focus on teaching students how to use digital tools well. This is essential, particularly for what my coauthor and I call Explorer Mode—when learners are agentically engaged, it helps young people build future-proof skills to thrive in an AI-driven world.

But beyond just using technology effectively, we also need to foster an understanding of its very architecture.

Too often, the young people I speak with see the way they access technology as set in stone. Whether it’s social media, search engines, or AI chatbots, these platforms feel like immutable forces—delivered “from on high” by large tech companies that have always existed and will continue to dominate the digital landscape.

But the reality is different: the architecture of digital technology is human-made and, therefore, changeable. 

If people grow weary of handing over their data—what they search for, who their friends are, what they eat, the issues they care about, the news they consume—then we should consider alternatives. The work of Project Liberty is one such intriguing effort. This initiative explores what a different online architecture might look like—one where users, in their words, have a greater “voice, choice, and stake in a better internet.” And they’re not alone in asking these questions.

The Barriers to Change—And Why They’re Not Insurmountable

Of course, transforming the digital ecosystem is no easy feat. I had a fascinating discussion with my Georgetown University students on this very topic, and we identified several barriers.

For example, why didn’t the call for a pause on advanced AI development—signed by over 1,000 leaders in spring 2023—actually materialize? One simple, if partial, answer: China. The AI race between Western companies and China makes slowing down incredibly difficult.

Similarly, how do we convince users to migrate to new platforms that offer more control over their data? At the very least, the user experience must be as good as, if not better than, what they’re accustomed to. And how do we get people to care about seemingly technical issues like data privacy in the first place?

Shaping the Future Through Awareness and Action

Even the biggest obstacles can be overcome—but first, we must believe they can be.

Young people need to recognize their agency not just in choosing how to participate in the digital world (or whether to participate at all) but in reimagining its very structure.

Achieving meaningful change will require multiple approaches: regulation, public awareness campaigns, innovative technological solutions, and, crucially, education that helps us all see what’s possible.

Because the future of technology isn’t set in stone—it’s ours to shape.

This post was originally posted on LinkedIn.