Nicholas Carr On The Human Consequences Of Connection And Technology – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #975 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to:

Nicholas Carr has long been one of the most important voices questioning how technology is shaping our minds, our communication, and our culture (and a personal favorite). His latest book, Superbloom – How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart, builds on the themes he’s explored in The Shallows and The Glass Cage, offering a critical look at how our obsession with constant connectivity may be eroding human relationships rather than strengthening them. In this conversation, Nick challenges the assumption that more communication automatically leads to greater understanding, explaining how friction in conversation is necessary for thoughtful interactions. We discussed the rise of dissimilarity cascades – how exposure to differing viewpoints can sometimes increase polarization rather than bridge divides – and why the utopian vision of digital communication often clashes with human nature. Nick also highlights the psychological toll of constant connectivity, particularly among younger generations, and the unintended consequences of social media’s influence on work, leisure, and personal identity. As AI continues to reshape communication, he raises important questions about authenticity, the risk of society becoming skeptical of everything, and the broader shift toward efficiency at the cost of deeper human values. His perspective is always thought-provoking, and this conversation is no exception. If you want to rethink how you engage with technology in your daily life, this episode is a must-listen. You should also check out his excellent Substack newsletter, New Cartographies. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via Apple Podcast or whatever platform you may choose): #975 – Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Before you go… ThinkersOne  is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.