Is social media changing your life? Watch the discussion

Since the onset of the worldwide pandemic, our lives have become more intertwined with social media than ever before.

The Intellectual Forum and the University of Cambridge ThinkLab welcomed an expert panel to talk about the impact social media is having on our lives for the Cambridge Festival 2021.

In a locked down world where physical proximity may not be even possible, social media often presents a lifeline to the rest of the world. How much of an effect do our daily social media habits have in our everyday lives? The apps that we check throughout the day influence how and where we receive news and information, who we spend time with, what we buy, and ultimately even how we think and feel. But what if we have more control over these aspects than we might assume?

The panel provided a range of perspectives and areas of expertise - Tyler Shores (the Intellectual Forum, Jesus College and ThinkLab, University of Cambridge), James Williams (author and winner of the Nine Dots Prize), and Dr Amy Orben (Neuroscience, University of Cambridge) – in a discussion that helped the online audience to think through what role everyday technology should have within our lives, our sense of self, and how we relate to the rest of the world.