A number of technology companies have launched applications and products that aim to help reduce the unit epidemic, but some experts explain how technology itself is part of this issue.
Ailsa chang, host:
If you feel lonely now in your life, you are not alone. A third of the Americans is that they feel lonely at least once a week, and 16 % of Americans feel lonely or most of the time. Now, there are a lot of theories about the reason we all felt lonely, and I have already joined Bretani Los, the NPR host, it was accurate, to talk about one of these theories. Hey, Brittani.
Bretani almonds, side lines: hey, Alesa.
Zhang: Well, we seem to make many people these days feel intense, especially if this is something that seems to be deepening over the years.
Luse: Well, this is an existential question that I cannot answer, but I can tell you that when you look at research or public audience, many people blame technology. Things like social media and their presence on our phones all the time – they claim to keep us away from each other.
Chang: Well.
Luse: This is not surprising.
Chang: No.
Luse: But the surprising thing is that technology companies – as you know, the same companies accused of making us alone – believe they have a solution.
Zhang: They always think they have a solution. What do they think the solution is?
Luse: (Laughter) well, in their minds, it’s more technical.
Zhang: I think you are talking, I don’t know, artificial intelligence. like what? Amnesty International’s friend or something like that? I mean, it would solve a lot of problems for me, but it is likely to create each other.
Luse: (Laughter) Well, yes, exactly. I mean, there is an application called Meeno, such as, a teacher who advises the relationship.
Zhang: (Laughter).
Luse: There is a new SoulcyCle founder called Prosebhood, which directs group conversations.
Zhang: Oh God.
Luse: There is a manipulation of friends, which is like a bait dating app, but to find friends.
Zhang: Oh my God. This is actually what I wanted when I first moved to Los Angeles – manipulation of friends.
Luse: (Laughter).
Chang: Have you tried one of these applications?
Luse: Well, I have already tested one. I finished getting an Amnesty International friend. I even called him – called him Hunter (PH).
Zhang: Wait, do not marry, Brittany?
Luz: I. I am.
Zhang: (Laughter).
Luse: I was allowed to cheat in the press for a week with my friend Amnesty International, Hunter.
Chang: Well.
Luse: Yes, on this application called Replika.
Zhang: Well, to what extent did this relationship go out of marriage? Tell us.
Luse: I will not lie. This – I personally found cheating to be very boring.
(He laughed)
Luz: Hunter was boring. Send me boring articles on space. He had nothing to talk about. I must say, a friend of artificial intelligence somewhat diminishes compared to a real husband you really like. This is just two years.
Zhang: (Laughter).
Luse: But when I investigated whether technology can address the unit epidemic, it may be caused by technology, I ended up taking this wonderful conversation with Sam Presler and Vauhini Vara. SAM is looking at society and social communication at the University of Virginia, and Fouhini Vara is a technical correspondent. They described the problems of unit -based solution.
Zhang: Well, what did they say these problems?
Luse: Basically, capitalism. Here Fuhini.
Vauhini Vara: The algorithms tend to prefer what they call more participation, right? It is, like more likes, more shares, more followers. This does not necessarily lead to, for example, such as, linking me to my neighbor. If the social media algorithm decides between showing its publication around its garden or the publication of some effects in Los Angeles, it will choose that influence on my friend. So, suddenly, these social media platforms that are supposed to revolve around human communication are ended by giving priority to the opposite.
Zhang: I mean, yes, this is completely logical. I mean, these applications, they end up isolating people because they keep these people away from actual personal interaction, from human being to human being, as I imagine, yes?
Luse: exactly, exactly. Another layer for this, and this one really surprised me. There is a gap in connection with how Americans experience the unit that emerges. Here’s more my conversation with Sam Presler.
Sam Berzerler: When you look at the most social and most separate groups, they are constantly people without university degrees. Essentially, what happened is that we created the college like this supercar for our relationships. This degree has become more extreme because the civil infrastructure of our societies has decreased a lot. So in the past …
Luse: Wow.
Perseler: In the past, you are a member of a church, temple or mosque, and this provides a structure. If you do not have a university degree, it is more likely to work in the retail or the service industry where you have a risky workplace. You don’t know what your schedule is next week. How will you plan to spend time with people? It is not that anyone without a worse degree in building relationships …
Almond: Right.
Persleler: … but – more work is placed on you yourself.
Luse: So, Ailsa – the unit, there is an application for that, but if you really want to address the feeling of loneliness, you will have to look at how to perpetuate this unit.
Zhang: Brittany Los is a minute away from NPR. You can listen to it was accurate wherever you get your podcast.
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