Question

For this week, watch before class the Sherry Turkle Ted Talk video and we will discuss in class one or more of the areas below. In preparation, write a short 2-4 paragraph report that summarizes what Sherry Turkle's main point is also what is your point of view on this topic? Submit it to Moodle to be graded • Pretend empathy • "We expect more from technology and less from each other" • Never having to be alone - discuss your own feelings on this • I share therefore I am • Capacity for solitude "If we don't teach our children to be alone, they will only know how to be lonely"

Answer 1

Answer- In the Ted Talk, Sherry Turkle explains by stating that even though technology has advanced considerably, it is not taking us to the place that we want to reach. While technology may have brought us "closer" to each other virtually, it has drifted us apart in reality. Sherry says that the little devices in our pockets, our cellphones, not only dictate what we do but also dictate who we are. People have found a way of being together, while not being together through technology.

We tend to prefer our phone's company rather than our peers' company, and expect more and more technological advancements to connect with the same peers, who we ignore in reality, more conveniently. We expect more from technology and less from the people around us. Similarly, the other reason why we feel the constant need to be on our phones is to not feel "lonely". We use technology as a security blanket to save us from ever feeling lonely. This is true because I feel the same when I don't have my phone around. I feel restless and anxious, and lonely. I, like most people, feel the constant need to validate my worth through technology.

People also feel like the more they share, the more people would believe that they are truly living. If you don't share your thoughts, views, and pictures on social media, it means that you do not have an interesting life. We feel the constant need to be "present" on these platforms, to "exist".

She further explains how if we don't teach children to enjoy their own company, without the need to have their cellphones in their hands constantly, they will always cling on to it to feel validated.