Kathmandu, July 10 -- In 2025, we stand at a crossroads in the digital era. Our platforms have become the new public squares, but rather than fostering democracy and dignity, many are optimised for manipulation, division, and profit. The Council on Technology and Social Cohesion's Blueprint on Prosocial Tech Design Governance offers a systems-level response to this crisis.

Digital harms are not accidental. They stem from deliberate choices embedded in how platforms are built and monetised. Infinite scroll, addictive recommendation systems, and deceptive patterns are not technical inevitabilities-they are design policies that reward engagement over truth, attention over well-being, and outrage over dialogue.

These antisocial designs hav...