Connected, but alone? - Sherry Turkle

As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Sherry Turkle studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication -- and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of connection we want to have.

Talk by Sherry Turkle.

[balancedarc]

How many people are here for school related reasons?

[tadalyrics]

Everything she says are a direct hit which is particularly relevant in our dependence to technology. Because technology has made our communication easier. We do online interactions much more than how we interact face-to-face. We slowly lose our human touch to one another without realizing. Although technology has provided us with so much benefits we are being connected but too connected to  the point that we are not showing our true self. One wouldn't know if someone is sincere since we are all able to delete and edit what we say virtually. As we slowly accept things and wish to distance ourselves away from the real world and humans we rely on the empathy of empty warmth provided by technology. What we need as the speaker says is “solitude” where we first have to fix the connection with ourselves, it is to process our thoughts and feelings rather than viewing solitude as loneliness. Therefore, technology has its pros but we are overly using it to the extent that it harms us without awareness because in this era, we think that this is the norm. Overall, her insights challenge us to rethink how we use technology and to prioritize authentic connections.
(Exactly 200 words) -Eduardo Nadela

[neomhelamaev.]

I needed to watch this for school activity. I know I need to watch it again for better understanding but hearing again her words will absolutely make me cry. Everything she says are direct hit. Like she walks in every landmines in my body. I don't even know how to answer the questions after watching this.

Can I just write ' I feel so weak because everything she said were like a direct hit from a professional boxer. It's a total K.O.

[franzemosquetes]

Me listen in this talk for doing the school activity. BUT realizing how important this is in life make me wonder how technology makes us connected. Connected to the point that we don't show our real self and make me feel lonely. This is real issue people. Please don't take this to lightly. We must open our real selves to others to really make us connected.

[lourdesmedina]

I wholeheartedly agree with the speaker because we are quite dependent on technology. Even when we say we are off grid. We are always on our devices when we are at parties, outings, and other social gatherings. We rely on our online personas too much. We talk but we talk through text and digital message/ expressions. We use “grammatical tools” to fix what we say and be able to coherent our thoughts, ideas, presentations, assignments, and even on this comment section for YouTube and other social media platforms. I say again we ARE and becoming dependent on our technology devices. It takes us to a virtual fantasies and desires. Our digital self expression can NEVER die either...once it’s out there IT IS there for life...an eternal mark of social impressions.

[danielsmith]

Wow, Sherry, you just touched on one of my buttons.. for a long time, I have had this feeling and experience that " no one is listening to me".. and one of the places is in real time social interaction, I see people "one-lining" conversations back and forth, but just try to get in two lines of reason, or input, and before you can say "send", the others are off to another subject or idea.. there is no social interaction beyond the casual comment, no depth to knowledge, and no heart for one's neighbors. I will not miss the world that this world has become.

[natsukitan]

I strongly agree with the speaker because even though technology has provided us with so many benefits, it has made us lose our human touch with one another. One would not know if someone is really sincere or whether that is their true self since we are all able to delete and edit what we say on social media. Making all of us believe in false identities and perfect images of someone we do not even know in reality. I agree that texting has some way made lives easier, but it has created an illusion for us because we believe that we are having a proper conversation with someone. I was disappointed when the speaker mentioned that a lady who lost her child sought solace from a robot. To think that we feel robots provide us with more empathy than people is really sad because robots do not have advice to give from personal experiences and the understanding of the grief from losing loved ones. Therefore, I feel that technology has its good but we are overly using it to the extent that it harms us discreetly, because, in this day and age, we think that this is the norm.
(200 words, Natsuki Tan, CMM/TB03)

[realThomastheCat]

If you accept the power of solitude and isolation, then you will never need to be with another. You will not be afraid of dying alone, nor will you seek a higher purpose in life with another, for you are the higher purpose and are in no need of another. This may sound anti-social, yes, but once all people see what I see, nobody will ever be lonely, for they have accepted it within their hearts. I long for a future where everyone's faces are constantly on their phones, through this, my dream of total solitude may come to fruition!

[plechercher]

This is by far the best ted talk I've watched. 

[Vikerus]

I get it. And I respect the care she has for humanity. The theme of where we want to have technology directed and it's mode of implementation is a big conversation.

[jandalesamillano]

❤️❤️💙 sounds crazy but i was really hoping someday, I'll be there also, influencing, explaining people the Right things to do . ❤️💙 .. about enlightenment, awareness, and many more.

[osirisadvocate]

I think this video is right on. I just turned 27 and I've noticed this in my own life as well as my wife's. Even more so in both of our younger siblings. I don't like leaving my phone at home, I'd rather text instead of talk on the phone. She's right on!

[AMITHHILLSHOW]

Sherry turkle great computer based author!!

[jamieteo]

I agree with the speaker. People now have higher expectations for technology rather than people. They seek feelings from a robot who is has no emotions rather than human emotions from people who actually have feelings. People rely on technology o fill up the void in their hearts whenever there are problems and they would rather spend quantity time on technology rather than quality time with other humans. This caused humans to in a way, lose their value as a human as they no longer have a need for each other physically as technology will solve all their problems so now the one with more value in people’s minds are technology and whoever is in the technology rather than humans who are physically there. People rather spend time on their phones using social media to contact others even when they are just close by. People now have difficulty communicating with one another outside technology and would rather spend their days indoor browsing through social media and internet on their phones and laptops
172 words, Jamie Teo, CMM/TB02

[nurhadhinahmohdshari]

I strongly agree with the speaker that social media does make people feel alone. The sad truth is that in the world we live in today, many people are crafting images of themselves that they want the world to see. They only include the good things that happen in their life on social media because that is how they wished their life was. Due to this lack of truth, people will not be able to know the person’s true identity forming a rift in relationships which could result in the feeling of loneliness.

Apart from that, I do feel that social media encourages introverts or shy people to blend in. however, I think the problem is that they might be spending so much time on social media platforms as an excuse for “communicating” or “bonding” when the reality is, they are still avoiding real contact. At the end of the day, they are still alone.

(155 words, Hadhinah, CMM/TB01)

[mrwn]

Hey it's 2020 I realized that communication not connection is best thing that can fight for your mental health. Keep talking, go back to your lives not online lives and claim your body back from the technology

[bitebibo]

This speech induced me to reconsider about my habit for using the technology.

[Sumbee]

technology is not the issue... It's a lack of connection with one's self. We can't blame technology for the way it's shaped humans.
Humans always make the same mistake of getting far to attached to anything. You don't blame the drug for creating drug addicts because they would use another form of disconnection to be free from their suffering. It's just that drugs are easier and work well for temporary relief of suffering. Now, the real issues lies in one's mind where the dominating mind pattern is to avoid the feeling of lack or incompleteness that is consitant in most people. Therefore, technology is still not a problem. It's the lack of attention to yourself. Your true self.

Once you give attention to what you feel, it dissolves. Do this over and over again then it will be gone. In extreme cases, this can be difficult and will take lots of practice and alertness. In the case of technology, become aware of the urge. that comes up right before you pick up the device.
I've been off social media for 7 days and felt no urge.

[CoFFee-uwsv]

10 years ago I wonder how shes feeling with the rise of A.I and in particular character a.i where actual people make up fake scenarios with fictional people.

[kardiderlich]

If everyone have been brainwashed then how come a lot think about this? Without even getting inspiration (maybe from my dad) i thought about this some months ago.
Anyway let's start a movement where we meet every sunday :D