The Luddite Club — A Documentary by Amanda Hanna-McLeer
Feb 16, 2026 | by Amanda Hanna-McLeer
In 2024, a filmmaker named Amanda Hanna-McLeer was visiting from New York and happened to be at Old Mill Park while our little ones were playing in the woods. She came up to Chako San and shared, “I’m impressed and heartened to see how the kids interacted with not only each other, but the resplendent nature around them.” She went on to say that she could tell these were children not constantly exposed to media, as is so often the case across the nation. Amanda told us she was working on a documentary about screen-free living for teenagers.
With teacher and parent permission, some of our little ones are now featured in her film. We are grateful to be a small thread in a much larger story about childhood, attention, and the importance of real human connection. Amanda recently shared an update with our community, and we are honored to pass it along. —Sam Wilder
When work on The Luddite Club began, many people’s feelings about their tech use were still bottled up. There was a growing awareness that social media was not working in young people’s favor and that screen time was too high, yet a clear path toward collective change had not yet emerged.
Since then, the conversation around tech, screens, and teens has exploded. Landmark books and investigations have shifted public awareness. Nationwide activism has led to substantial lawsuits, policy changes, and even an official warning from the Surgeon General. At the same time, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence tools has introduced new risks and amplified the already immense power of Silicon Valley.
The Luddite Club has taken on new significance in this context. The film traces how one group of teens, beginning with a simple choice during the COVID era to disconnect from smartphones and social media, unexpectedly helped spark a broader cultural shift. What began as a small “Luddite Club” among friends grew into a national nonprofit, gained press attention, and inspired others to reconsider their relationship with technology.
This is not a story about fame. It is about courage. It is about young people choosing presence over performance, books over feeds, conversation over scrolling. It is about reclaiming attention and rediscovering real-life connection.
The documentary follows the teens as they collaborate with advocacy groups, organize phone-free gatherings, and participate in a growing movement that questions the impact of Big Tech on mental health and society. Featuring voices such as Jenny Odell, Brian Merchant, Julie Scelfo of Mothers Against Media Addiction, and Palantir whistleblower Juan Sebastián Pinto, the film weaves together activism, history, and deeply personal storytelling.
At its heart, however, the primary storytellers are teens.
Through a playful, mixed-media approach, teacher and student filmmakers reject sensational headlines and instead offer an honest portrayal of young people navigating a post-COVID world shaped by screens. The film captures everything from city hall hearings to phone-free meetings in Prospect Park, where the original Luddite Club gathered.
The term “Luddite” has evolved. Historically, it referred to English textile workers who opposed mechanized machinery in the early 1800s. Today, it has been reclaimed by teens who are not anti-technology, but who are advocating for its thoughtful and humane use. They are not rejecting the future. They are asking us to shape it wisely. —Amanda Hanna-Mcleer
We often speak at The New Village School about protecting childhood, about giving children time to play, imagine, build, and be fully present with one another. We see daily what happens when children are immersed in nature, storytelling, art, and meaningful work. Amanda saw it too, that afternoon in Old Mill Park.
Her goal is to complete The Luddite Club by September 2026 for festival submissions. If this project resonates with you, we invite you to explore the Kickstarter campaign and consider supporting the completion of this important film.
It arrives at a moment when many families are asking hard questions about technology and searching for both inspiration and a roadmap forward. We are grateful to be part of the conversation.
Links: