In the episode of the Data Malarkey podcast – live from 6 August 2025 – Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, speaks with Christine Rosen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of the 2025 book The Extinction of Experience: Reclaiming Our Humanity in a Digital World. Christine’s work examines how technology is changing not only what we do, but who we are. The book explores how mediated life is fast becoming normal life, often without us realising what we’re losing.
What disappears when everything is mediated?
Rosen has spent years studying the evolution of digital platforms, from the early days of MySpace to today’s always‑on, mobile‑first world. What struck her most was how little attention we give to the qualitative aspects of these changes: eye contact on the bus, handwritten notes, unplanned conversations. These small, everyday moments form the habits of mind that shape our sense of self, virtue, and belonging. When they vanish, often by choice rather than force, we risk hollowing out the foundations of human connection.
COVID as an accelerant, not a cause
The pandemic turbocharged this shift. Screen time soared, and while some boundaries between work and home life may have existed before, COVID blurred them beyond recognition. Many employers still struggle to coax staff back to in‑person collaboration – or even using the phone or having meetings. And yet, Rosen notes, face‑to‑face interaction – particularly in creative industries – developed for a reason. It isn’t nostalgia; it’s efficiency and empathy.
Why boredom matters
One of Rosen’s most compelling themes is the value of boredom. Unstructured “fallow” time is a breeding ground for creativity and insight. It allows our minds to wander, to make connections, to process emotions. But in a world of instant distraction, even seconds at a traffic light are filled with phone‑scrolling. Rosen challenges us to try a simple experiment: resist reaching for your phone during those interstitial moments. Look up. Notice. Let your mind roam.
The emotional cost of mediation
Perhaps most troubling is the effect of living a mediated life on emotional literacy. Studies show that heavy screen use can blunt our ability to read others’ expressions and even to recognise our own feelings. The constant availability of distraction teaches us to avoid discomfort, stunting the skills needed for resilience and mature relationships. “Humans are messy,” Rosen says, “and technology promises to make life seamless. But flourishing means learning to live with that messiness.”
What about data?
Data, Rosen argues, should be a servant, not a master. Big data and AI can summarise research or reveal patterns, but they cannot tell us what it means to live well. Nor should they dictate how we spend our leisure or measure our worth. Information is not the same as knowledge – and certainly not wisdom.
Closing thoughts
Rosen’s message is not anti‑technology. It’s a call for awareness: to choose what we mediate, to slow down, to preserve the embodied, face‑to‑face experiences that make life meaningful. “Find something real,” she says. “Do it with others. And when you do, put the phone away.”
If you’re curious about how to thrive in an age of constant connection without losing what makes us human, this episode is worth your time.
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The first draft of this blog was written by ChatGPT, summarising the transcript of the podcast