Imagine it’s Friday night, and your fridge is empty. What do you do? If you’re like many Australians, you might order dinner through UberEats or scroll through TikTok for entertainment. Need to write a card? Tools like ChatGPT can help craft the perfect message. Want to connect? Dating apps like Hinge and Tinder can help you find companionship, though matches can be hit or miss.
In today’s tech-driven world, convenience is king. Businesses aim for a frictionless user experience. But is this constant ease good for us?
Kyla Scanlon, an author and economic commentator, discussed this idea on The Ezra Klein Show. She points out that ease can sometimes strip joy from our lives. When dating and ordering food are just clicks away, we miss out on the struggles that help us grow. “When friction disappears, we lose connection and meaning,” says Dr. Tim Sharp, a psychologist.
He advocates for embracing small challenges, like walking to pick up dinner or chatting with a neighbor. These moments can lead to community and joy. The small inconveniences often hold deeper rewards—like building relationships and fostering happiness.
The quest for constant convenience can leave us feeling overwhelmed. The world today grapples with societal issues: rising costs of living, climate change, and loneliness. Instead of confronting these realities, many retreat into easy distractions, like endless scrolling or ghosting friends.
However, retreating into technology often means we lose vital human experiences. Andrea Carter, a belonging expert, emphasizes that friction plays a crucial role in our connections. “Right now, we don’t have the infrastructure to deal with friction,” she says. She argues that our aversion to inconvenience stems from a fear of failure in building relationships.
The costs of a frictionless existence extend beyond personal experiences. Jakko Kemper, in his work on technology, suggests that seamless consumer experiences often hide the environmental and ethical downsides of our choices. For instance, companies like Shein offer cheap fashion, but their practices can be harmful to the planet and workers. In another example, using AI tools for quick answers in place of thorough research can ignore the significant resources used, such as water.
Even in entertainment, stories reflect our desire for deeper connections. Pluribus, a show on Apple TV, presents a world where a virus creates a frictionless existence. The characters achieve ultimate harmony, but at the cost of their individuality and rich human emotions.
Ultimately, it’s about balance. Injecting small doses of “friction” back into our lives can help us reconnect and form meaningful bonds. This approach doesn’t mean eliminating technology; rather, it encourages valuing human interactions. We need to show up for each other, embrace awkward moments, and face challenges. After all, technology alone can’t solve our problems.
We must remember what truly matters: our connections with each other. Leaning into those relationships, even when it’s tough, is what brings us joy and fulfillment. Looking for community beyond digital interactions can lead to deeper, more meaningful experiences. Embracing life’s messy parts can help us grow and foster lasting connections—exactly what we need in today’s fast-paced world.
