[Applause] how we communicate with each other how
how we communicate with each other how
how we communicate with each other how we interact with other people has a
we interact with other people has a
we interact with other people has a profound impact on who we are on our
profound impact on who we are on our
profound impact on who we are on our identity and especially so in the
identity and especially so in the
identity and especially so in the digital age where the social media is so
digital age where the social media is so
digital age where the social media is so prevalent I became aware of this
prevalent I became aware of this
prevalent I became aware of this connection between how we communicate
connection between how we communicate
connection between how we communicate and the identity quite accidentally
and the identity quite accidentally
and the identity quite accidentally while I was doing my PhD on TV
while I was doing my PhD on TV
while I was doing my PhD on TV lightweighting that is people tweeting
lightweighting that is people tweeting
lightweighting that is people tweeting about a TV program while doing it I
about a TV program while doing it I
about a TV program while doing it I discovered the TV light readers instead
discovered the TV light readers instead
discovered the TV light readers instead of wanting to communicate with a large
of wanting to communicate with a large
of wanting to communicate with a large community of people having different
community of people having different
community of people having different sorts of opinions about the TV program
sorts of opinions about the TV program
sorts of opinions about the TV program actually preferred a much smaller crowd
actually preferred a much smaller crowd
actually preferred a much smaller crowd and not just any crowd but a crowd of
and not just any crowd but a crowd of
and not just any crowd but a crowd of like-minded people here is what one of
like-minded people here is what one of
like-minded people here is what one of my interviewees told me it’s really nice
my interviewees told me it’s really nice
my interviewees told me it’s really nice to talk to other people about it that
to talk to other people about it that
to talk to other people about it that feel the same way have same opinions and
feel the same way have same opinions and
feel the same way have same opinions and like the same things so light readers
like the same things so light readers
like the same things so light readers first search for please people thinking
first search for please people thinking
first search for please people thinking like them and then started to follow
like them and then started to follow
like them and then started to follow them on Twitter so these people then
them on Twitter so these people then
them on Twitter so these people then because they could watch more easily
because they could watch more easily
because they could watch more easily actually relate first of all to their
actually relate first of all to their
actually relate first of all to their tweets and second of all because and
tweets and second of all because and
tweets and second of all because and maybe more importantly that they could
maybe more importantly that they could
maybe more importantly that they could these people were more prone to follow
these people were more prone to follow
these people were more prone to follow them back and react to their tweets
them back and react to their tweets
them back and react to their tweets because the ultimate fun factor of
because the ultimate fun factor of
because the ultimate fun factor of lightweighting was and is the positive
lightweighting was and is the positive
lightweighting was and is the positive feedback that it provides through
feedback that it provides through
feedback that it provides through retweets and replies and likes I’m sure
retweets and replies and likes I’m sure
retweets and replies and likes I’m sure that all those of you who are using
that all those of you who are using
that all those of you who are using social
social
social Media actively can relate to this
Media actively can relate to this
Media actively can relate to this testimonial of another responder online
testimonial of another responder online
testimonial of another responder online I think lightweighting is the most fun
I think lightweighting is the most fun
I think lightweighting is the most fun when I get a lot of positive responses
when I get a lot of positive responses
when I get a lot of positive responses from people so when writing my thesis
from people so when writing my thesis
from people so when writing my thesis three years ago about this social
three years ago about this social
three years ago about this social interaction when watching TV I thought
interaction when watching TV I thought
interaction when watching TV I thought that this light readers willingness to
that this light readers willingness to
that this light readers willingness to communicate primarily with like-minded
communicate primarily with like-minded
communicate primarily with like-minded people was a trivial finding I gathered
people was a trivial finding I gathered
people was a trivial finding I gathered that they were simply replicating their
that they were simply replicating their
that they were simply replicating their online be offline behavior to the online
online be offline behavior to the online
online be offline behavior to the online context after all in the physical world
context after all in the physical world
context after all in the physical world we tend to communicate most often with
we tend to communicate most often with
we tend to communicate most often with people that are close to us
people that are close to us
people that are close to us our friends our relatives family members
our friends our relatives family members
our friends our relatives family members acquaintances that tend to have the same
acquaintances that tend to have the same
acquaintances that tend to have the same kinds of opinions and values than we do
kinds of opinions and values than we do
kinds of opinions and values than we do and so these persons can be considered
and so these persons can be considered
and so these persons can be considered like-minded and there are many benefits
like-minded and there are many benefits
like-minded and there are many benefits in communicating with friends and so I
in communicating with friends and so I
in communicating with friends and so I thought that this communication that
thought that this communication that
thought that this communication that light feelers were doing was just
light feelers were doing was just
light feelers were doing was just communication between friends and
communication between friends and
communication between friends and acquaintances taking place online when
acquaintances taking place online when
acquaintances taking place online when you’re communicating with a friend he or
you’re communicating with a friend he or
you’re communicating with a friend he or she knows what you are appreciating he
she knows what you are appreciating he
she knows what you are appreciating he or she is available when you need them
or she is available when you need them
or she is available when you need them and especially if you’re looking for
and especially if you’re looking for
and especially if you’re looking for some sort of information your friends
some sort of information your friends
some sort of information your friends sort of filter away all the irrelevant
sort of filter away all the irrelevant
sort of filter away all the irrelevant stuff now this can be a great thing if
stuff now this can be a great thing if
stuff now this can be a great thing if you’re looking for a movie to watch or a
you’re looking for a movie to watch or a
you’re looking for a movie to watch or a phone to buy but it can be a terrible
phone to buy but it can be a terrible
phone to buy but it can be a terrible thing if it prevents you from enlarging
thing if it prevents you from enlarging
thing if it prevents you from enlarging your own worldview and this just like
your own worldview and this just like
your own worldview and this just like with this third interview among is what
with this third interview among is what
with this third interview among is what I fear is taking place on all social
I fear is taking place on all social
I fear is taking place on all social media platform
media platform
media platform currently here is what she had to say I
currently here is what she had to say I
currently here is what she had to say I think that’s the real interesting
think that’s the real interesting
think that’s the real interesting question for everybody in the social
question for everybody in the social
question for everybody in the social media am I just talking to myself in an
media am I just talking to myself in an
media am I just talking to myself in an echo are we just talking to ourselves in
echo are we just talking to ourselves in
echo are we just talking to ourselves in an echo
an echo
an echo I fear that with with social media we
I fear that with with social media we
I fear that with with social media we have built around ourselves individual
have built around ourselves individual
have built around ourselves individual echo chambers echo chambers were similar
echo chambers echo chambers were similar
echo chambers echo chambers were similar kinds of opinions resonate and echo
kinds of opinions resonate and echo
kinds of opinions resonate and echo chambers where there is no room for
chambers where there is no room for
chambers where there is no room for opposing views these echo chambers they
opposing views these echo chambers they
opposing views these echo chambers they feed our vanity because they provide us
feed our vanity because they provide us
feed our vanity because they provide us positive feedback and validation for our
positive feedback and validation for our
positive feedback and validation for our opinions and the information in these
opinions and the information in these
opinions and the information in these echo chambers is all the more convincing
echo chambers is all the more convincing
echo chambers is all the more convincing because it tends to multiply itself
because it tends to multiply itself
because it tends to multiply itself through shares and retweets the same
through shares and retweets the same
through shares and retweets the same information bounces back and forth from
information bounces back and forth from
information bounces back and forth from friend to friend from contact to contact
friend to friend from contact to contact
friend to friend from contact to contact and from person to person just like an
and from person to person just like an
and from person to person just like an echo does from the heart surfaces of an
echo does from the heart surfaces of an
echo does from the heart surfaces of an echo chamber so now this echo chamber
echo chamber so now this echo chamber
echo chamber so now this echo chamber phenomenon that I found non interesting
phenomenon that I found non interesting
phenomenon that I found non interesting and trivial three years ago emerges to
and trivial three years ago emerges to
and trivial three years ago emerges to me today has something that is creating
me today has something that is creating
me today has something that is creating a fog between us and the opinions of
a fog between us and the opinions of
a fog between us and the opinions of people that are outside of our immediate
people that are outside of our immediate
people that are outside of our immediate environment now I want to make the
environment now I want to make the
environment now I want to make the difference between this echo chamber
difference between this echo chamber
difference between this echo chamber effect that I’m describing and the so
effect that I’m describing and the so
effect that I’m describing and the so called filter bubble that refer to
called filter bubble that refer to
called filter bubble that refer to algorithms used by virtually all and
algorithms used by virtually all and
algorithms used by virtually all and especially large websites these
especially large websites these
especially large websites these algorithms are actually prioritizing
algorithms are actually prioritizing
algorithms are actually prioritizing messages that we have there are similar
messages that we have there are similar
messages that we have there are similar to the ones that we have previously read
to the ones that we have previously read
to the ones that we have previously read or light
or light
or light and thus they filter away from our
and thus they filter away from our
and thus they filter away from our social media feeds our news feeds and
social media feeds our news feeds and
social media feeds our news feeds and even from our search results all the
even from our search results all the
even from our search results all the messages that we do not tend to read or
messages that we do not tend to read or
messages that we do not tend to read or like or pay attention to so for sure
like or pay attention to so for sure
like or pay attention to so for sure these filters and algorithms sort of
these filters and algorithms sort of
these filters and algorithms sort of thicken this fog that I’m describing but
thicken this fog that I’m describing but
thicken this fog that I’m describing but if we as social media users act like the
if we as social media users act like the
if we as social media users act like the participants in my study and prefer to
participants in my study and prefer to
participants in my study and prefer to communicate only with like-minded people
communicate only with like-minded people
communicate only with like-minded people we cannot blame solely the algorithms
we cannot blame solely the algorithms
we cannot blame solely the algorithms for this fog in fact I think that the
for this fog in fact I think that the
for this fog in fact I think that the deceptiveness of this echo chamber
deceptiveness of this echo chamber
deceptiveness of this echo chamber phenomenon lies precisely in the fact
phenomenon lies precisely in the fact
phenomenon lies precisely in the fact that it is self-inflicted and therefore
that it is self-inflicted and therefore
that it is self-inflicted and therefore hard to detect especially in the hectic
hard to detect especially in the hectic
hard to detect especially in the hectic life of our everyday environment but if
life of our everyday environment but if
life of our everyday environment but if we take a moment if we take a step back
we take a moment if we take a step back
we take a moment if we take a step back and think about our social media feeds I
and think about our social media feeds I
and think about our social media feeds I think we can hear the echo can you hear
think we can hear the echo can you hear
think we can hear the echo can you hear the echo
I definitely can and I fear that this
I definitely can and I fear that this echo is dividing us on all sorts of
echo is dividing us on all sorts of
echo is dividing us on all sorts of occupational orientations on all sorts
occupational orientations on all sorts
occupational orientations on all sorts of religious beliefs and on all sorts of
of religious beliefs and on all sorts of
of religious beliefs and on all sorts of political use or other interest areas
political use or other interest areas
political use or other interest areas and I would even say that it is partly
and I would even say that it is partly
and I would even say that it is partly to blame for the recent increase in
to blame for the recent increase in
to blame for the recent increase in populism intolerance and attacks against
populism intolerance and attacks against
populism intolerance and attacks against the democratic values of our society now
if you hear the echo you must be asking
if you hear the echo you must be asking yourself what can we do about this I
believe that we are all individually
believe that we are all individually responsible for our own echo chamber and
responsible for our own echo chamber and
responsible for our own echo chamber and therefore I believe that also the
therefore I believe that also the
therefore I believe that also the solution lies in ourselves and that the
solution lies in ourselves and that the
solution lies in ourselves and that the tool that we need to fight this
tool that we need to fight this
tool that we need to fight this phenomenon is just as ingrained in the
phenomenon is just as ingrained in the
phenomenon is just as ingrained in the human nature as its vanity the tool that
human nature as its vanity the tool that
human nature as its vanity the tool that I’m referring to or the characteristic
I’m referring to or the characteristic
I’m referring to or the characteristic that I’m talking about is curiosity
that I’m talking about is curiosity
that I’m talking about is curiosity now curiosity has led the humankind into
now curiosity has led the humankind into
now curiosity has led the humankind into some of its most significant
some of its most significant
some of its most significant accomplishments great things from
accomplishments great things from
accomplishments great things from discovering vaccines to sending the man
discovering vaccines to sending the man
discovering vaccines to sending the man in the outer space or in the face of the
in the outer space or in the face of the
in the outer space or in the face of the moon curiosity lies deep in each of us
moon curiosity lies deep in each of us
moon curiosity lies deep in each of us and although it can take intrusive form
and although it can take intrusive form
and although it can take intrusive form it is generally seen as a positive force
it is generally seen as a positive force
it is generally seen as a positive force that drives us to discover new so I
that drives us to discover new so I
that drives us to discover new so I simply think that this self satisfying
simply think that this self satisfying
simply think that this self satisfying social media environment where we’re
social media environment where we’re
social media environment where we’re currently living in will not be able to
currently living in will not be able to
currently living in will not be able to satisfy our curiosity in the long run
satisfy our curiosity in the long run
satisfy our curiosity in the long run and that we will get bored with it I
and that we will get bored with it I
and that we will get bored with it I think that we’re actually seeing signs
think that we’re actually seeing signs
think that we’re actually seeing signs of this boredom already now some people
of this boredom already now some people
of this boredom already now some people are closing their social media accounts
are closing their social media accounts
are closing their social media accounts and others are sharing tips on how to
and others are sharing tips on how to
and others are sharing tips on how to trick these algorithms by friending
trick these algorithms by friending
trick these algorithms by friending people they don’t want to be friends
people they don’t want to be friends
people they don’t want to be friends with or
with or
with or liking pages they don’t actually like I
liking pages they don’t actually like I
liking pages they don’t actually like I don’t think that we will get very far by
don’t think that we will get very far by
don’t think that we will get very far by pretending and lying like this first of
pretending and lying like this first of
pretending and lying like this first of all because it’s against our nature and
all because it’s against our nature and
all because it’s against our nature and second of all because these algorithms
second of all because these algorithms
second of all because these algorithms are really good at detecting what we’re
are really good at detecting what we’re
are really good at detecting what we’re really interested in but maybe we could
really interested in but maybe we could
really interested in but maybe we could approach this differently maybe we could
approach this differently maybe we could
approach this differently maybe we could take a little different angle to this
take a little different angle to this
take a little different angle to this although being aware of these algorithms
although being aware of these algorithms
although being aware of these algorithms and filters and customization tools is
and filters and customization tools is
and filters and customization tools is important I think it’ll be very hard for
important I think it’ll be very hard for
important I think it’ll be very hard for us to change our communication patterns
us to change our communication patterns
us to change our communication patterns and tools so drastically that we would
and tools so drastically that we would
and tools so drastically that we would be able to avoid filtering once and for
be able to avoid filtering once and for
be able to avoid filtering once and for all but maybe we could make these
all but maybe we could make these
all but maybe we could make these algorithms work for us and maybe we
algorithms work for us and maybe we
algorithms work for us and maybe we could cultivate our curiosity in smaller
could cultivate our curiosity in smaller
could cultivate our curiosity in smaller parts small projects and then approach
parts small projects and then approach
parts small projects and then approach these projects as individual learning
these projects as individual learning
these projects as individual learning journeys actually this is the way that
journeys actually this is the way that
journeys actually this is the way that scientific research works for instance
scientific research works for instance
scientific research works for instance or journalists work or many artists work
or journalists work or many artists work
or journalists work or many artists work they delve into a subject they try to
they delve into a subject they try to
they delve into a subject they try to understand it and then they make their
understand it and then they make their
understand it and then they make their own interpretation of it and along the
own interpretation of it and along the
own interpretation of it and along the process what’s interesting is that
process what’s interesting is that
process what’s interesting is that whether they’re artists or journalists
whether they’re artists or journalists
whether they’re artists or journalists or researchers they end up changing
or researchers they end up changing
or researchers they end up changing themselves because they have learned
themselves because they have learned
themselves because they have learned something and that’s important now these
something and that’s important now these
something and that’s important now these learning journeys need not be any overly
learning journeys need not be any overly
learning journeys need not be any overly burdensome or ambitious all you need to
burdensome or ambitious all you need to
burdensome or ambitious all you need to do is to pick a topic and start googling
get acquainted with people who are
get acquainted with people who are knowledgeable in the in the in this area
knowledgeable in the in the in this area
knowledgeable in the in the in this area of interest of yours or activate your
of interest of yours or activate your
of interest of yours or activate your networks offline and online and soon
networks offline and online and soon
networks offline and online and soon enough these social media algorithms
enough these social media algorithms
enough these social media algorithms will pick up this in new interest of
will pick up this in new interest of
will pick up this in new interest of yours and and help you along the way
yours and and help you along the way
yours and and help you along the way I have had two such experiences myself
I have had two such experiences myself
I have had two such experiences myself recently the first one was socially
recently the first one was socially
recently the first one was socially motivated
motivated
motivated I run a cultural center called cable
I run a cultural center called cable
I run a cultural center called cable factory here in Helsinki and in the fall
factory here in Helsinki and in the fall
factory here in Helsinki and in the fall of 2015 when the Syrian refugee crisis
of 2015 when the Syrian refugee crisis
of 2015 when the Syrian refugee crisis was at its highest peak the cultural
was at its highest peak the cultural
was at its highest peak the cultural community of cable factory wanted to
community of cable factory wanted to
community of cable factory wanted to know how they could help refugees and
know how they could help refugees and
know how they could help refugees and especially refugee artists and our
especially refugee artists and our
especially refugee artists and our office was in charge of the project
office was in charge of the project
office was in charge of the project however I realized soon that my echo
however I realized soon that my echo
however I realized soon that my echo chamber was empty of refugees and and
chamber was empty of refugees and and
chamber was empty of refugees and and people working with them and then we
people working with them and then we
people working with them and then we realized that actually no one in our
realized that actually no one in our
realized that actually no one in our team had ever met a Syrian refugee so we
team had ever met a Syrian refugee so we
team had ever met a Syrian refugee so we needed to reach out and through our
needed to reach out and through our
needed to reach out and through our networks we found this lady who worked
networks we found this lady who worked
networks we found this lady who worked as a volunteer for an organization
as a volunteer for an organization
as a volunteer for an organization helping and supporting refugees and then
helping and supporting refugees and then
helping and supporting refugees and then in collaboration with this organization
in collaboration with this organization
in collaboration with this organization we ended up organizing a joint art
we ended up organizing a joint art
we ended up organizing a joint art exhibition by refugee artists and local
exhibition by refugee artists and local
exhibition by refugee artists and local artists and then cooking nights where
artists and then cooking nights where
artists and then cooking nights where refugees could meet members of our
refugees could meet members of our
refugees could meet members of our community it was these personal
community it was these personal
community it was these personal encounters working together cooking
encounters working together cooking
encounters working together cooking together listening face to face their
together listening face to face their
together listening face to face their survival stories that really marked us
survival stories that really marked us
survival stories that really marked us forever I remember vividly talking to an
forever I remember vividly talking to an
forever I remember vividly talking to an elderly gentleman who told me that he
elderly gentleman who told me that he
elderly gentleman who told me that he had previously visited Finland many
had previously visited Finland many
had previously visited Finland many times as a businessman and now he was
times as a businessman and now he was
times as a businessman and now he was here as a refugee and had spent months
here as a refugee and had spent months
here as a refugee and had spent months in a shelter waiting for an answer for
in a shelter waiting for an answer for
in a shelter waiting for an answer for his asylum application I couldn’t do
his asylum application I couldn’t do
his asylum application I couldn’t do much for him other than listen to his
much for him other than listen to his
much for him other than listen to his story and express my sympathy but the
story and express my sympathy but the
story and express my sympathy but the curiosity still paid off our world had
curiosity still paid off our world had
curiosity still paid off our world had changed
well the other experience was more
well the other experience was more personal in nature although related to a
personal in nature although related to a
personal in nature although related to a professional project at cable factory
professional project at cable factory
professional project at cable factory we’re building an extension to a current
we’re building an extension to a current
we’re building an extension to a current facilities a house dedicated to dance
facilities a house dedicated to dance
facilities a house dedicated to dance now my problem was that I don’t have any
now my problem was that I don’t have any
now my problem was that I don’t have any background in dance I don’t know
background in dance I don’t know
background in dance I don’t know anything about dance so I needed to get
anything about dance so I needed to get
anything about dance so I needed to get acquainted with this form of art from
acquainted with this form of art from
acquainted with this form of art from various angles well fortunately I had
various angles well fortunately I had
various angles well fortunately I had people around me who were much more
people around me who were much more
people around me who were much more knowledgeable in the field so I friended
knowledgeable in the field so I friended
knowledgeable in the field so I friended them on Facebook and I connected with
them on Facebook and I connected with
them on Facebook and I connected with them on LinkedIn and started to follow
them on LinkedIn and started to follow
them on LinkedIn and started to follow them on Twitter and obviously also began
them on Twitter and obviously also began
them on Twitter and obviously also began to attend dance performances and then
to attend dance performances and then
to attend dance performances and then finally also signed up for a middle-aged
finally also signed up for a middle-aged
finally also signed up for a middle-aged man contemporary dance class myself so
man contemporary dance class myself so
man contemporary dance class myself so there I was with seven other middle-aged
there I was with seven other middle-aged
there I was with seven other middle-aged men doing some cool moves over a weekend
men doing some cool moves over a weekend
men doing some cool moves over a weekend well as you can see I’m still not an
well as you can see I’m still not an
well as you can see I’m still not an expert but I can assure you that I will
expert but I can assure you that I will
expert but I can assure you that I will never ever look at the contemporary
never ever look at the contemporary
never ever look at the contemporary dance performs in the same way as I did
dance performs in the same way as I did
dance performs in the same way as I did before and now I have the utmost respect
before and now I have the utmost respect
before and now I have the utmost respect for the professional dancers who can
for the professional dancers who can
for the professional dancers who can actually express themselves through
actually express themselves through
actually express themselves through their body and sure enough dance in its
their body and sure enough dance in its
their body and sure enough dance in its various forms is now popping up
various forms is now popping up
various forms is now popping up regularly in my social media feeds so on
regularly in my social media feeds so on
regularly in my social media feeds so on one side we can decide to build our
one side we can decide to build our
one side we can decide to build our identity upon the vanity feeding echo
identity upon the vanity feeding echo
identity upon the vanity feeding echo chamber which is a comfortable spot to
chamber which is a comfortable spot to
chamber which is a comfortable spot to be because has this familiar thoughts
be because has this familiar thoughts
be because has this familiar thoughts and opinions but which is dangerous
and opinions but which is dangerous
and opinions but which is dangerous because it prevents us from
because it prevents us from
because it prevents us from understanding people outside of our
understanding people outside of our
understanding people outside of our immediate environment on the other side
immediate environment on the other side
immediate environment on the other side we have curiosity and we can decide to
we have curiosity and we can decide to
we have curiosity and we can decide to build our identity on curiosity
build our identity on curiosity
build our identity on curiosity curiosity is demanding because it’s
curiosity is demanding because it’s
curiosity is demanding because it’s relentlessly putting in question our
relentlessly putting in question our
relentlessly putting in question our always
always
always doing things on our existing theories
doing things on our existing theories
doing things on our existing theories and habits but it’s also joyful because
and habits but it’s also joyful because
and habits but it’s also joyful because it makes us learn new things and meet
it makes us learn new things and meet
it makes us learn new things and meet new people and discover new ideas we are
new people and discover new ideas we are
new people and discover new ideas we are all responsible for our own echo
all responsible for our own echo
all responsible for our own echo chambers and we control our social
chambers and we control our social
chambers and we control our social networks whether we are teachers or
networks whether we are teachers or
networks whether we are teachers or students or researcher or artists or
students or researcher or artists or
students or researcher or artists or journalists we control our social
journalists we control our social
journalists we control our social networks whether they’re offline or
networks whether they’re offline or
networks whether they’re offline or online let’s make sure that our
online let’s make sure that our
online let’s make sure that our communication cultivates our curiosity
communication cultivates our curiosity
communication cultivates our curiosity and that it will not give in to the
and that it will not give in to the
and that it will not give in to the temptation of the echo curiosity may
temptation of the echo curiosity may
temptation of the echo curiosity may have killed a cat but it may well also
have killed a cat but it may well also
have killed a cat but it may well also save the humankind thank you
save the humankind thank you
save the humankind thank you [Applause]
”
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