In this pilot episode of The Future with Friends, Simon Waller and fellow futurist Steph Clarke dive into a thought-provoking exploration of what friendship might look like in the near future.
Tasked with crafting a future scenario, Steph envisions a world where social connectedness is quantified - where Oura rings track the health benefits of our relationships, and algorithms determine whether our friendships are truly enriching our lives. But as with anything measured, there’s always the potential to game the system. Could people start changing their behaviour to boost their "friendship score"?
Their conversation delves into the implications of social scoring, the growing crisis of loneliness, and how communities might evolve in response. They explore bold ideas - co-housing arrangements among friends, new models of shared parenting, and the shifting role of digital platforms in shaping human connection.
As the lines between technology and relationships blur, what does it really mean to have a meaningful friendship?
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome to The Future with Friends Podcast
04:07 – How Simon and Steph first met
06:20 – Introducing Steph’s topic: The future of friendship
08:47 – Steph’s scenario: A glimpse into friendship 5-10 years from now
11:44 – Simon’s key takeaways from the scenario
12:38 – Steph’s experience writing the scenario
17:00 – Signs in the present that point to this future
19:15 – The gamification of relationships
23:00 – The asymmetry of friendships
27:30 – Lessons Steph learned from writing this future
30:00 – How future scenarios create safe spaces for tough conversations
32:00 – Back-casting: What events would lead us here?
33:40 – The commercialisation of friendship
35:00 – The illusion of certainty: How apps create a false sense of security
39:36 – The loneliness epidemic and social constructs
44:43 – The future of parenting and co-parenting with friends
46:08 – The broader impact of future scenarios
47:56 – Steph’s upcoming book
50:30 – Our evolving relationship with data from smart devices
53:40 – Creative ways to strengthen social bonds
59:00 – Wrapping up – final thoughts
TAKEAWAYS:
Friendship is a vital aspect of health that often gets overlooked.
Technology can both enhance and complicate friendships.
The concept of social scores could change how we perceive and maintain friendships.
Friendship dynamics are influenced by societal constructs and individual needs.
The future may see a shift towards co-housing and communal living arrangements among friends.
Loneliness is a growing epidemic that needs to be addressed through meaningful connections.
The importance of initiating creative and engaging activities with friends.
Friendship should be prioritised alongside other aspects of wellbeing.
The balance of giving and receiving in friendships is crucial for their longevity.
https://thefuturewithfriends.com