Beeban Kidron

The book Kidron has written about big tech, Users, isn't simply furious. In parts it's gossipy, even unexpectedly funny... an impassioned cri de coeur against an industry.'

Powerful, shocking and prescient, it combines heartbreaking personal stories with hard-headed evidence and demands for political reform. Kidron makes a complicated subject remarkably accessible.

In this astonishing book, Kidron somehow manages to explain everything, in a gripping and accessible way, about one of the biggest crises we face. It is a thrilling story of how democracies can respond to the world’s most powerful industry, told by the woman who is leading the charge.

Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation

The fury at tech’s argument for its exceptionalism steams from the page… Ultimately, her message is simple: cracking down on tech’s harms will enable us to enjoy its benefits.

Both a manifesto and a roadmap, an accessible explainer and an energising call to arms.

One of the most important books of recent years.

Carl Miller, co-founder of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media

Seeking a guide to the role big tech plays in our lives and our politics, you could not find anyone more expert than Beeban Kidron... as a primer for the biggest social upheaval of our times her manifesto is unrivalled.

In USERS, Kidron clearly makes the case: when profit depends on our attention, our division, and our dependence, harm is not a side effect – it is the strategy. Compelling and deeply human, Kidron brings the insider knowledge of a legislator and the storytelling instincts of a filmmaker to one of the most urgent crises of our time.

Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology

Beeban Kidron has spent her life watching what Big Tech does to childhood. We fight the same battle: to change design choices that exploit and destroy our children, our truth, our democracies. Users is her reckoning and her roadmap: we must demand better – but only if we have the courage. Read it. Then join our fight!

Maria Ressa, journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Beeban has been inspirational in galvanising the creative industries against Big Tech’s attempt to hijack our creative rights. This book will help us understand how high the stakes are and how we can fight back.

How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back

An insider’s guide to the fight to regulate Big Tech and a manifesto for how concerned citizens and parents can take back control. For fans of Jonathan Haidt, Shoshana Zuboff and Sarah Wynn-Williams. 
 
AS HEARD ON BBC BREAKFAST AND BBC SUNDAY WITH LAURA KUENSSBERG 
 
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In USERS, legislator and campaigner Beeban Kidron goes on a journey into the world Big Tech has created, from the halls of Parliament and the UN to the White House and Silicon Valley. 
 
Through her encounters with specialist police officers, bereaved parents, lobbyists and tech bros, you’ll witness the unchecked power of Big Tech, as they avoid rules and regulations, and capture governments that are meant to protect us. 
 
You’ll see how the issue is not technology itself, but its use and abuse. How tools built to connect people are redeployed to divide, punish, distract, and control; while our tech overlords come to own everything – but continue to be held responsible for nothing. 
 
Now that we know their game, it's time to fight back. This book will show you what went wrong, what is really going on, and what we can do about it. 
 
Praise for USERS: 
 
'A thrilling story of how democracies can respond to the world’s most powerful industry, told by the woman who is leading the charge.' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation 
 
'Kidron brings the insider knowledge of a legislator and the storytelling instincts of a filmmaker to one of the most urgent crises of our time.’ Tristan Harris, co-founder of Center for Humane Technology 
 
'Beeban has spent her life watching what Big Tech does to childhood. We fight the same battle. USERS is her reckoning and her roadmap: we must demand better – but only if we have the courage. Read it. Then join our fight!' Maria Ressa, journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate 
 
‘This book will help us understand how high the stakes are and how we can fight back.’ Sir Elton John and David Furnish 
 
A NEW SCIENTIST BEST NEW POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK OF JUNE 2026

Beeban Kidron

Praise for Users

The book Kidron has written about big tech, Users, isn't simply furious. In parts it's gossipy, even unexpectedly funny... an impassioned cri de coeur against an industry.'

Powerful, shocking and prescient, it combines heartbreaking personal stories with hard-headed evidence and demands for political reform. Kidron makes a complicated subject remarkably accessible.

In this astonishing book, Kidron somehow manages to explain everything, in a gripping and accessible way, about one of the biggest crises we face. It is a thrilling story of how democracies can respond ...

The book Kidron has written about big tech, Users, isn't simply furious. In parts it's gossipy, even unexpectedly funny... an impassioned cri de coeur against an industry.'

Powerful, shocking and prescient, it combines heartbreaking personal stories with hard-headed evidence and demands for political reform. Kidron makes a complicated subject remarkably accessible.

In this astonishing book, Kidron somehow manages to explain everything, in a gripping and accessible way, about one of the biggest crises we face. It is a thrilling story of how democracies can respond ...

The book Kidron has written about big tech, Users, isn't simply furious. In parts it's gossipy, even unexpectedly funny... an impassioned cri de coeur against an industry.'

Powerful, shocking and prescient, it combines heartbreaking personal stories with hard-headed evidence and demands for political reform. Kidron makes a complicated subject remarkably accessible.

In this astonishing book, Kidron somehow manages to explain everything, in a gripping and accessible way, about one of the biggest crises we face. It is a thrilling story of how democracies can respond ...

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