People need to experience themselves as agents in their relationships. It is a crucial and fundamental aspect of human connection to be able to speak, listen, and respond with authenticity and intention. In many digital spaces, interaction is shaped by incentives that favor speed, reaction, and visibility over judgment and care which undermine the above imperatives. Being accustomed to address faceless masses, instantly so as to not lose relevance, weakens the sense of responsibility people have for how they relate to one another and how their words affect shared life thereby weakening human bonds.

When people have a say over how they communicate online, responsibility becomes central in what they build and promote. In taking ownership over the tools that govern the most fundamental of human activities—communication—people can optimize for trust, depth and authenticity. Treating technology as a tool that serves human relationships rather than directing them creates conditions for public life that are geared at attention, making communication deeper, more humane and more harmonious.