Longtermism, as framed in the Effective Altruism community, deeply worries me because it feels too confined to that intellectual circle and risks being detached from reality. If it is to have genuine value, it must be applicable beyond this space—not just as a lofty ideal, but as something that speaks to and engages with the real world.
My concern is that longtermism, in its current practice, often seems to prioritize the good of the distant future in isolation from the urgent needs of the present. This separation fills me with anxiety. The future cannot be secured while ignoring the present, because the present is the launchpad for whatever comes ahead. To shut our eyes and ears to today’s pressing calls is to weaken the very foundation on which the future depends.
Longtermism must not work in isolation. It must engage the present, test its ideas in communities, and prove its relevance here and now before projecting them forward. Otherwise, it risks becoming a paralyzing concept —frozen in speculation while real people struggle. How can we dash into the future while leaving today’s crises unresolved?
This concern weighs even more heavily when I think of the Global South. These regions already carry enormous burdens—poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, fragile infrastructure. For them, an abstract future-focused framework that sidelines the present may not just be irrelevant but counterproductive. Unless longtermism learns to work in two time zones at once—the present and the future—its interventions may harm rather than help.
My name is Yetunde Ajayi. I was introduced to effective altruism this year through 80,000 Hours. However, I had previously encountered its core ideals during my time volunteering at a food bank in Canada. Since then, I’ve resonated deeply with the principles of effective altruism and have been exploring ways to apply them meaningfully—particularly in the area of digital inclusiveness for Africa, and Nigeria in particular.
Given the slower pace of infrastructural development in this region compared to more developed nations, I believe that promoting digital inclusiveness can help bridge economic inequalities and open up more opportunities for meaningful participation in the global economy.
I recently attended EAGxNigeria25 in Abuja, where I actively engaged in talks, one-on-one meetings, and workshops. It was inspiring to collaborate with others passionate about effective altruism across various domains, including global health, climate change, animal welfare, and AI safety. However, I observed that digital inclusiveness hasn’t received as much attention on the global EA agenda.
This is why I’m particularly excited about the opportunity this forum offers—to engage more deeply with like-minded individuals and explore how the ideals of effective altruism can be harnessed to develop impactful initiatives in digital inclusiveness. I’m eager to learn, collaborate, and grow under the mentorship and guidance of those already working in this space.
Longtermism, as framed in the Effective Altruism community, deeply worries me because it feels too confined to that intellectual circle and risks being detached from reality. If it is to have genuine value, it must be applicable beyond this space—not just as a lofty ideal, but as something that speaks to and engages with the real world.
My concern is that longtermism, in its current practice, often seems to prioritize the good of the distant future in isolation from the urgent needs of the present. This separation fills me with anxiety. The future cannot be secured while ignoring the present, because the present is the launchpad for whatever comes ahead. To shut our eyes and ears to today’s pressing calls is to weaken the very foundation on which the future depends.
Longtermism must not work in isolation. It must engage the present, test its ideas in communities, and prove its relevance here and now before projecting them forward. Otherwise, it risks becoming a paralyzing concept —frozen in speculation while real people struggle. How can we dash into the future while leaving today’s crises unresolved?
This concern weighs even more heavily when I think of the Global South. These regions already carry enormous burdens—poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, fragile infrastructure. For them, an abstract future-focused framework that sidelines the present may not just be irrelevant but counterproductive. Unless longtermism learns to work in two time zones at once—the present and the future—its interventions may harm rather than help.
Why not split the prize money over a range of winners ( like the best 20 memes).
My name is Yetunde Ajayi. I was introduced to effective altruism this year through 80,000 Hours. However, I had previously encountered its core ideals during my time volunteering at a food bank in Canada. Since then, I’ve resonated deeply with the principles of effective altruism and have been exploring ways to apply them meaningfully—particularly in the area of digital inclusiveness for Africa, and Nigeria in particular.
Given the slower pace of infrastructural development in this region compared to more developed nations, I believe that promoting digital inclusiveness can help bridge economic inequalities and open up more opportunities for meaningful participation in the global economy.
I recently attended EAGxNigeria25 in Abuja, where I actively engaged in talks, one-on-one meetings, and workshops. It was inspiring to collaborate with others passionate about effective altruism across various domains, including global health, climate change, animal welfare, and AI safety. However, I observed that digital inclusiveness hasn’t received as much attention on the global EA agenda.
This is why I’m particularly excited about the opportunity this forum offers—to engage more deeply with like-minded individuals and explore how the ideals of effective altruism can be harnessed to develop impactful initiatives in digital inclusiveness. I’m eager to learn, collaborate, and grow under the mentorship and guidance of those already working in this space.