Nicholas Carr, author of *Superbloom*, dives into the often-overlooked impact of digital communication on our connections and self-perception. He argues that the belief that more communication is better has faltered, leading to overwhelming interactions and superficial relationships. The conversation touches on how the evolution from thoughtful letters to rushed emails has diminished intimacy. Carr also highlights the unsettling nature of presenting multiple selves online and advocates for prioritizing meaningful exchanges over mere convenience in our digital age.

In 1964, the Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan wrote his opus Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. In it, he writes, “In the long run, a medium's content matters less than the medium itself in influencing how we think and act." Or, put more simply: "Media work their magic, or their mischief, on the nervous system itself."This idea — that the media technologies we rely on reshape us on a fundamental, cognitive level — sits at the center of Nicholas Carr's 2010 book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. A world defined by oral traditions is more social, unstructured, and multi-sensory; a world defined by the written written word is more individualistic, disciplined, and hyper-visual. A world defined by texting, scrolling and social feedback is addicted to stimulus, constantly forming and affirming expressions of identity, accustomed to waves of information.Back in 2010, Carr argued that the internet was changing how we thought, and not necessarily for the better. “"My brain, I realized, wasn't just drifting,” he wrote. “It was hungry. It was demanding to be fed the same way the net fed it — and the more it was fed, the hungrier it became.” His book was a finalist for the Pulitzer that year, but dismissed by many, including me. Ten years on, I regret that dismissal. Reading it now, it is outrageously prescient, offering a framework and language for ideas and experiences I’ve been struggling to define for a decade. Carr saw where we were going, and now I wanted to ask him where we are. In this conversation, Carr and I discuss how speaking, reading, and now the Internet have each changed our brains in different ways, why "paying attention" doesn't come naturally to us, why we’re still reading Marshall McLuhan, how human memory actually works, why having your phone in sight makes you less creative, what separates "deep reading” from simply reading, why deep reading is getting harder, why building connections is more important than absorbing information, the benefits to collapsing the world into a connected digital community, and much more.The point of this conversation is not that the internet is bad, nor that it is good. It’s that it is changing us, just as every medium before it has. We need to see those changes clearly in order to take control of them ourselves. Book recommendations: The Control Revolution by James R. BenigerThe Four-Dimensional Human by Laurence ScottA Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer EganWant to contact the show? Reach out at ezrakleinshow@vox.comPlease consider making a contribution to Vox to support this show: bit.ly/givepodcasts Your support will help us keep having ambitious conversations about big ideas.New to the show? Want to check out Ezra’s favorite episodes? Check out the Ezra Klein Show beginner’s guide (http://bit.ly/EKSbeginhere)Credits:Producer/Editer - Jeff GeldResearch Czar - Roge Karma Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicholas Carr, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Shallows, dives into the disconnection breeding from our over-reliance on technology. He unpacks how faster communication has paradoxically led to deeper divides and conflicts. Carr explores the complicated relationship between digital efficiency and human connection, arguing that more isn't always better. He also highlights the isolating effects of social media, revealing how it can magnify differences instead of fostering unity, ultimately questioning what it means to truly connect in a digital world.

Nicholas Carr, the author of 'Superbloom' and former executive editor at Harvard Business Review, joins to discuss the transformative impact of social media on human connections. He delves into the chaos sparked by online behavior, like the super bloom phenomenon, and examines how digital communication affects relationships, especially for Gen Z. Carr questions the assumption that increased communication enhances connections and stresses the need for balancing digital interactions with real-life engagement. The conversation also highlights the collective responsibility in navigating the digital age.

Nicholas Carr, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Shallows and Superbloom, explores the human consequences of our tech-driven lives. He discusses how faster communication has led to misunderstandings and heightened conflicts, paradoxically tearing us apart instead of bringing us together. Carr highlights the social costs of digital interactions, revealing how online connectivity fosters mistrust. He emphasizes the need for meaningful communication, advocating for deeper connections over mere efficiency.

Nicholas Carr, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist 'The Shallows,' dives into his latest book 'Superbloom,' highlighting how social media leads to misunderstanding rather than connection. He draws a striking parallel with a 2019 phenomenon where the pursuit of beautiful images trampled the flowers, mirroring our digital interactions. Carr discusses the historical optimism for communication tech, the shift from genuine experiences to hyperreality, and urges for mindful tech use, speculating future generations may favor real-life connections over digital distractions.

Have you found it harder and harder to sit with a good book for long periods of time without getting that itch to check your phone? Well, you're not alone. My guest today makes the case that the internet has changed our brains in ways that make deep, focused thinking harder and harder. His name is Nicholas Carr, and he documented what was then a newly-emerging phenomenon ten years ago in his book The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. The Shallows has now been re-released with a new afterword, and Nick and I begin our conversation with how he thinks the effect of digital technology on our minds has or hasn't changed over the last decade. We then discuss the idea of the medium being the message when it comes to the internet, and how this particular medium changes our brains and the ways we think and approach knowledge and the world. Nick then explains how we read texts on screens differently than texts in books, why hyperlinks mess with our ability for comprehension, why it's still important to develop our own memory bank of knowledge even in a time when we can access facts from an outsourced digital brain, and how social media amplifies our craving for the fast and easy-to-digest over the slow and contemplative. We end our conversation with how Nick himself has tried to strike a balance in keeping the advantages of the internet while mitigating its downsides. Get the show notes at aom.is/shallows.

Nicholas Carr, an acclaimed author known for works like 'Superbloom' and 'The Shallows,' dives deep into the shifting landscape of social media. He discusses how platforms went from fostering genuine connections to prioritizing profit and engagement over meaningful interactions. The conversation highlights TikTok's algorithmic influence on user behavior, the rise of AI-generated content, and the implications of potential bans on platforms. Carr emphasizes the need for personal agency to navigate these complexities and restore thoughtful engagement with technology.

Nicholas Carr, author of "Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart," dives into the paradox of social media. He explores how our need for connection collides with the reality that technology often deepens isolation. Carr discusses the evolution of social media and its impact on personal relationships, emphasizing the illusion of genuine interaction. He argues for a shift from efficiency to meaningful engagement, calling for introspection on our digital habits and their effects on our emotional connections.

Nicholas Carr, a renowned author and former executive editor of the Harvard Business Review, dives deep into the digital revolution's impact on society. He discusses how technological innovation has shifted from fulfilling human needs to indulging self-serving desires, predicting a decline in meaningful engagement. Carr highlights the 2012 smartphone and social media boom, linking it to rising anxiety among youth. He also explores AI's role in creativity and warns against outsourcing essential human activities, urging a more thoughtful engagement with technology.