Why Our Generation Needs Digital Minimalism
Alex Dawson |
TEDxQueensU
• January 2020
The beginning of the 21st century will be remembered by the advances in digital technology. While digital technology is the single largest social disrupter, on a day to day basis its use goes largely unnoticed. How do we truly spend our time? What effects is this technology having on the new generations? And what are we losing in our experience as human beings? These are the questions Alex Dawson seeks to address in his talk. Alex is a digital minimalist who, after living without a laptop and a phone, realized the absurdity of his previous behaviours that were directly inspired by device use. If we're all going to die, why wouldn't we live radical and fulfilling lives? After doing some research he found the new technology is not without its own bleak consequences for the children growing up with it. More disturbing is that these consequences are a byproduct of an intentional design that succeeds by keeping our attention. How does this fit into our values? Alex Dawson is a Queen's University graduate. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.