The Vergecast · Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Kai Tang believes that public sentiment towards smartphone usage has evolved, with more people actively seeking ways to reduce their screen time. He notes that events like Cambridge Analytica and the increasing awareness of algorithmic influence have contributed to this shift.
“And then I think you get to the point where, uh, you know, fast forward a few years, we get through Cambridge Analytica, we start to experience a real tech backlash there.”
“Is the sense that I'm spending too much time on my phone, the algorithm feeds start to come in. And I think that then we get to a point where everybody intellectually understands that they would like to use their smartphone less.”
“And then I think you get to the last, I don't know, 18 months, and it feels like something has flipped.”