Youth Leaders

Sebastian Mahal is a youth organizer, advocate, and coalition builder working at the intersection of social media harms, emerging technology, and youth political power. Their organizing background spans movements for queer and trans safety, reproductive justice, gun violence prevention, and climate advocacy. As Co-Chair, Sebastian is focused on how these same systemic harms are reproduced on insufficiently regulated online platforms, turning widespread youth frustration with digital platforms into coordinated action for change. Sebastian holds degrees in political science and philosophy, with a specialization in digital ethics.

Nikki Iyer is a student at the University of California, Berkeley. As Co-Chair of Design It For Us, Nikki works to galvanize youth power by fostering greater balance, agency, and well-being among young people navigating an increasingly digital world. At Berkeley, Nikki organizes speaker series events that bring conversations about technology, culture, and politics to campus. Through her academics, Nikki studies how rhetoric around AI and social media influences our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and the boundary between online and real life. 

Nick is a writer, researcher, and organizer with a simple goal: spreading more happiness in the digital age. He has run behavioral studies on social media use, launched and scaled several responsible tech startups, and consulted on behalf of groups like the Ford Foundation. Lately, he’s been organizing events around NYC to experiment with the power of collective attention.

Kendall Schrohe works to build the cultural and political infrastructure for a world where people aren’t exploited by big tech. She helps lead the Innovator Circle at Design It For Us where she brings together founders creating human-centered alternatives to extractive platforms. At the Electronic Privacy Information Center, she works on development and platform accountability, supporting EPIC’s advocacy, litigation, and research to protect digital privacy rights. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Santa Clara University and is based in DC.

Matthew Stevens is a youth advocate from Syracuse, New York, studying political science at Le Moyne College. In addition to DIFU, he serves as the Director of Chapter Development at the Log Off Movement. He has been consulted by schools, colleges, and universities regarding numerous topics related to digital wellness. Beyond his work in tech advocacy, Matthew is also an elected official in his home community.

Matthew Allaire is a second-year Political Science student at Macalester College working to ensure emerging technologies serve our collective interests. Previously, he advocated for the 2024 Minnesota Kids Code, testifying before municipal and federal policymakers on digital well-being and technology addiction. Now, as an Encode Justice AI Policy Fellow, he works to integrate youth perspectives into AI governance frameworks that will shape future generations’ experiences with AI and other emerging technologies.