Christine Rosen on How Technology Replaces Experiences

Technological innovations are often sold to the public as ways to make life easier. But what if the increasing prevalence of technology in our lives is actually crowding out human experiences that are integral to children’s development and well-being?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by AEI Senior Fellow Christine Rosen to discuss her new book, The Extinction of Experience. Christine argues that the unmitigated push to integrate technology into all areas of life can be particularly harmful for children, who could be missing out on fundamental human experiences that help them grow. She highlights how even simple practices like learning cursive, or more significant milestones like dating—without the medium of screens—play a fundamental role in shaping who children become as adults. Contrary to tech moguls like Elon Musk who want to form new human communities on other planets, Christine believes we have a responsibility to find solutions that make life on earth a good one for children. Making the active choice to cut out technology from certain areas of our lives could be a good place to start.

Resources

• The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World | Christine Rosen

• The Lost Art of Waiting | Christine Rosen

• Katharine Birbalsingh on Banning Smartphones from Schools | Naomi Schaefer Riley, Ian Rowe, and Katharine Birbalsingh

Show Notes:

• 01:13 | When did you first start noticing the negative impacts screens were having on kids?

• 03:11 | Does it bring you some comfort that there is a growing movement to remove cell phones from schools?

• 05:14 | What are some of the individual experiences we are losing because of technology? Are there some experiences that are alright to replace?

• 08:00 | How has technology affected dating and the romantic lives of young people?

• 10:03 | Can we recapture the tradition of having ‘forced’ human interaction in spaces like churches, schools, and homes?

• 12:36 | What can you tell us about the individuals and companies who are making these technologies?

• 15:19 | Figures like Elon Musk have resorted to colonizing new planets as a solution to some of our human problems. Is this the right response? How would you respond?

• 18:08 | What are the chances that a child who has been raised with so much technology will be able to dig themselves out of this?

• 20:55 | Is there a role for faith and religious institutions in all of this?