Conversations with Experts: Saahil Mishra on Making Digital Spaces Healthier

Is Social Media Connecting Us—or Keeping Us Apart?

This week on Meaning vs. Merit, I sat down with changemaker Saahil Mishra—an 18-year-old tackling one of today’s biggest challenges—social media and teen well-being.

Saahil founded Unwiring after a powerful realization: despite messaging a friend every day, he had no idea they were struggling with severe anxiety and depression—until they met in person. From there, he launched a movement. His nonprofit now is dedicated to educating and empowering young people on responsible social media use, and he’s working to make digital spaces healthier for the next generation. Some of the exciting things he has accomplished:
🔹 Met with high-level government officials, policymakers, and platforms like Meta to advocate for safer, healthier digital spaces
🔹 Hosted a youth summit featuring top researchers
🔹 Led workshops on responsible media use

Saahil describes his philosophy as seek meaning first, and let merit follow. His story is a powerful example of how passion and purpose can drive real change—even at an early age. And one of my favorite quotes of his:

“You only know something won’t work when you try it.” ~ Saahil Mishra

In our conversation, we discuss:
💡 Why prioritizing meaning over merit has led to his biggest successes
💡 The real reason social media feels addictive
💡 His advice for teens and parents navigating the digital world

You won't want to miss it!
🎧 Listen now
💭 And let us know what you think - Can we design a better digital future?

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