SPEAKING
EVIDENCE-BASED KEYNOTES ON TECHNOLOGY AND WELL-BEING
Dr. Kostadin Kushlev is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University and Director of the Happy Tech Lab. He translates more than 15 years of research on smartphones, social media, AI, attention, and well-being into clear ideas audiences can understand, remember, and use.
RECENTLY FEATURED
Panelist at the 2026 Live Real Life Symposium on Kids and Screens, convened by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.
PBS News Horizons · NBC · NPR · Nature Human Behaviour
Read about the Surgeon General symposium →
SIGNATURE KEYNOTES
The Digital Paradox: Why Smartphones Haven’t Made Us Happier—and What to Do About It
Our devices make life easier, but ease is not the same as well-being. Dr. Kushlev explains why smartphones can quietly erode attention, connection, and happiness—and what the evidence says about building healthier digital habits without abandoning technology.
Best for: corporate leadership, professional associations, conferences, and workplace well-being programs.
Kids, Screens & Social Media: What the Science Actually Says
Public debate has moved faster than the evidence. Drawing on NIH-funded research and his participation in the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2026 symposium on kids and screens, Dr. Kushlev separates what researchers know from what they do not—and gives parents, educators, health leaders, and policymakers a clear framework for reasonable action.
Best for: health systems, schools, foundations, policy organizations, and parent audiences.
AI Without Losing Your Voice: Creativity, Attention, and the Human Cost of Convenience
AI can make an individual output more creative while making everyone’s output more alike. This talk explores how AI is changing originality, effort, attention, and human connection—so organizations can use powerful tools without giving up what makes human work distinctive.
Best for: executive audiences, professional associations, technology, education, law, and consulting firms.
WHY INVITE DR. KUSHLEV?
Current science, not recycled trends. Dr. Kushlev leads a $1.5 million NIMH-funded study on social media and adolescent mental health and directs the Happy Tech Lab at Georgetown University.
A trusted public communicator. His work has been featured by PBS, NBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, BBC, TIME, and WIRED.
Nuance audiences can use. Every talk separates evidence from hype and leaves audiences with practical takeaways—without moral panic, easy villains, or a generic “digital detox.”
SELECTED APPEARANCES
Live Real Life Symposium on Kids and Screens
Panelist · Office of the U.S. Surgeon General · 2026
PBS News Horizons
“Screens are virtually inescapable. What are they doing to our health?” · 2026
TODAY
“Appstinence: Why Unplugging From Phones Is Gaining Momentum” · 2026
The Digital Paradox
Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention · Washington, DC