In the 21st century, humanity is in a better position than ever. In fact, since the beginning of the previous century, the average global life expectancy has more than doubled. We have cured countless diseases. Luxuries equivalent to science fiction only a couple of generations ago are now being taken for granted. Poverty rates are at an all-time low and quality of life has never been this high. We have an abundance of pretty much every type of food at any time of the year. Even after all this, it feels like everybody is more pessimistic than ever. Every day, somebody says the world will end. When will climate change and AI takeover end?! Even with all these advancements, many people remain pessimistic, worrying about issues like climate change or the rise of AI. This hackathon is your opportunity to create an app that fosters optimism and counters these misconceptions.
In addition to making people feel less hopeful, excessive pessimism can have tangible negative impacts. When individuals believe the world is beyond saving, they are less likely to contribute to organizations actively solving pressing issues like climate change. This widespread despair can overshadow genuine progress, discouraging collective action and innovation. For example, while more than 80% of new energy infrastructure built in 2023 was renewable, a remarkable achievement in combating climate change, very few people are aware of it. Instead, conversations often focus solely on rising sea levels, receding glaciers, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This imbalance in perception can skew public priorities, reducing support for the very solutions that are driving progress.
This tendency to focus on scary, negative things has deep evolutionary roots. Early humans had to prioritize threats for survival—those who paid more attention to potential dangers, like predators or scarce resources, were more likely to survive and pass on their genes. While this instinct served our ancestors well, it can work against us in the modern world, where we are bombarded with information. Negative news, often more attention-grabbing, spreads rapidly, incentivizing people to post or share alarming stories. When people are surrounded by a constant stream of negativity, they begin to think negatively, which can lead to tangible effects like decreased motivation, lower engagement in problem-solving, and diminished trust in progress. This collective mindset can discourage people from supporting initiatives and innovations that are actively addressing the very issues they are concerned about.
March 14, 2025 - March 21, 2025
MindTheGap Challenge
Online
To be determined