Name: Why we need strangeness
Uploaded: 2013-05-14T15:00:03Z
Duration: 7 min 46 s
Description: In our digital world, social relations have become mediated by data. Without even realizing it, we're barricading ourselves against strangeness -- people and ideas that don't fit the patterns of who we already know, what we already like and where we've already been. Maria Bezaitis makes a bold call for technology to deliver us to what and who we need, even if it's unfamiliar and strange.

Maria Bezaitis: Why we need strangeness

Why we need strangeness

In our digital world, social relations have become mediated by data. Without even realizing it, we're barricading ourselves against strangeness -- people and ideas that don't fit the patterns of who we already know, what we already like and where we've already been. Maria Bezaitis makes a bold call for technology to deliver us to what and who we need, even if it's unfamiliar and strange.

Avoiding strangeness limits growth in a digital age where technology mediates nearly all relationships. The most valuable connections often come from outside our usual social circles, as seen in research showing weak ties spread information more widely than close friends. Sharing possessions online with strangers has changed not just access to goods but also the way people relate. Embracing unfamiliar people and ideas unlocks new opportunities for discovery and progress.