Notes on Technology and Human Connection

Introduction

• Average person spends 4 years of life looking down at cellphones.
• Irony of touchscreens making us lose touch with each other.
• Modern world filled with technology (IMAX, iPads, iPhones) leads to more isolation.

Technology's Impact on Social Connections

• Technology makes us selfish and separate.
• Claims of connection do not translate to genuine improvement in relationships.

Critique of Social Media

• Facebook termed as an "anti-social network."
• Big friend lists do not equate to meaningful friendships.
• Many feel friendless despite having numerous online connections.
• Self-worth measured by likes and followers instead of real relationships.
• Preference for posting online rather than engaging in face-to-face conversations.

Communication and Attention Span

• Media over-stimulation reduces the quality of communication.
• Chats and messages shortened, with news reduced to 140 characters.
• Rise in attention deficit disorders linked to fast-paced media consumption.
• Average adult's attention span is now lower than that of a goldfish.

Personal Reflection and Action

• Importance of personal choice in managing technology use.
• Call to action:
  • Choose to experience moments without recording them.
  • Enjoy meals without taking pictures.
  • Resist pressure to constantly update social media.
  • Challenge the vanity and performance culture of social media.

Vision for the Future

• Imagining a world where low battery signs are welcomed.
• A sign of returning to more genuine human interactions.