We've stopped trusting institutions and started trusting strangers
2,138,145 views | Rachel Botsman • TEDSummit
Something profound is changing our concept of trust, says Rachel Botsman. While we used to place our trust in institutions like governments and banks, today we increasingly rely on others, often strangers, on platforms like Airbnb and Uber and through technologies like the blockchain. This new era of trust could bring with it a more transparent, inclusive and accountable society -- if we get it right. Who do you trust?
Something profound is changing our concept of trust, says Rachel Botsman. While we used to place our trust in institutions like governments and banks, today we increasingly rely on others, often strangers, on platforms like Airbnb and Uber and through technologies like the blockchain. This new era of trust could bring with it a more transparent, inclusive and accountable society -- if we get it right. Who do you trust?
This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
About the speaker
Rachel Botsman is a recognized expert on how collaboration and trust enabled by digital technologies will change the way we live, work, bank and consume.
Christopher Hayes | Broadway Paperbacks, 2013 | Book
Twilight of the Elites
The Twilight of the Elites brilliantly charts why we are losing trust in the institutions that shape our daily lives and that are central to society functioning: banks, media, government and the church.
Russell Hardin | Russell Sage Foundation, 2002 | Book
Trust and Trustworthiness
Trust and Trustworthiness is essential reading to unpack the theoretical basics on what trust is, why it matters and how it relates to trustworthiness.
James Surowiecki | Anchor, 2005 | Book
The Wisdom of Crowds
Chapter six in Surowiecki’s bestselling book, The Wisdom of Crowds captures the benefits of being trusted and being trustworthy. It explains how modern capitalism made the idea of trusting people you have no personal ties with possible.
Rachel Botsman | Harvard Business Review, 2015 | Article
"The Changing Rules of Trust in the Digital Age"
In this article, I explain why the rules of trust are changing and why institutional trust was not designed for the digital age.
Rachel Botsman | Wired, 2016 | Article
"New Trust Networks: Your Best Friend Is a Stranger"
In this article, I explain how trust is the currency of interactions. It summarizes how people are starting to realize the deposits of trust they are leaving all over the web have value.
David Brooks | The New York Times, 2014
Brooks captures why there is a new trust calculus powered by both social and economic forces. | Article
"The Evolution of Trust"
Reith Lecture Series | Onora O’Neill, BBC | Article
"A Question of Trust"
O’Neill’s lectures are a must read in terms of understanding the role trust plays in society and how many of the mechanisms we put in place to build trust in fact destroy it.
Jason Tanz | Wired, April 23, 2014 | Article
"How Airbnb and Lyft Finally Got Americans to Trust One Another"
Tanz’s feature in Wired is a brilliant summary of why trust is the social glue of companies like Airbnb and Uber. It has a great graphic showing the evolution of trust.
Jo Gebbia | TED Talks, 2016 | Watch
"How Airbnb designs for trust"
Gebbia, Jo,TED Talks, February 2016)
The co-founder of Airbnb explains how with the right design people can overcome their stranger danger bias.
The co-founder of Airbnb explains how with the right design people can overcome their stranger danger bias.
Andrew Haldane | Speech given at New City Agenda Annual dinner, 2016 | Article
"The Great Divide"
Andy Haldane, the Chief Economist for the Bank of England, gives a brilliant overview on why the state of trust in financial institutions is so low.
Onora O’Neill | TED Talks, 2013 | Watch
"What we don't understand about trust"
Baroness O’Neil explains why the goal of building more trust is a stupid aim. Rather, we should aim to place our trust where it is deserved –in others who are trustworthy.
| Book
Trust Surveys
The following are surveys that track the public’s general attitude towards trust.
Ipos Mori: Trust in Professions
Gallup: Confidence in Institutions
Harvard: Trust in Institutions and the Political Process
Edelman Trust Barometer
Ipos Mori: Trust in Professions
Gallup: Confidence in Institutions
Harvard: Trust in Institutions and the Political Process
Edelman Trust Barometer
Learn more
This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.