LOL – Love Out Loud: this year’s motto of re:publica re:publica aimed to encourage people to stand up for a free and open society, create positive concepts against hate speech and misinformation, and promote more transparency and constructive dialogue. “Spreading love” – how beautiful. Let’s see what remains of this colorful motto.
From the wide spectrum of presentations, here’s a brief selection
In the digital age, attention is the most important resource. In the past, you shouldn’t be conspicuous, but today, you must be conspicuous. However, if it’s only about generating the most clicks on the internet, Gunter Dueck aptly calls it “content-free communication. The channel is open, but there’s no content.”
To escape the amplifiers of filter bubbles, engage with negative trends, and improve online discourse, we need more… namely, digital and analog courage. Johnny Haeusler (co-founder and organizer of re:publica) said, “It’s wrong to just react. We need to counteract – create a positive atmosphere.”
Jan Kablitzers excellent presentation and his therapeutic perspective on social media made it clear that we need to move more. Because our own view of the world is always incomplete. You can watch his vivid talk on love, anger, hate, and misunderstood intimacy on the internet here:
Miriam Meckel painted a picture of the future that has already begun. In three phases, she explained ‘what’s going on,’ ‘what’s coming,’ and ‘what follows.’ What will surely follow is the physical connection of technology and the human brain. Imagine being able to send a text message with the power of your thoughts to a phone – so ‘think in’ and ‘think back.’ Or, a sent message is instantly translated into other languages. This is what the communication of the future could look like.
In the medical field, such developments are full of promise. However, this also means that step by step, we will be able to convert our thoughts into data. When disabled people can move devices with their thoughts and gain autonomy and quality of life, it’s a wonderful thought. But, of course, this development will also find its way into the commercial world.
‘… sometimes we only think for ourselves instead of thinking after.’ In the wonderfully philosophical lecture ‘Update: The Art of Love’ (read it here), Felix Schwenzel reflected on Erich Fromm and his continued relevance today. And he quoted Carolin Emcke: ‘We don’t need love; respect is enough for us.’
Looking back at the motto ‘Love Out Loud’ and the presentations at re:publica 2017, it becomes more than clear: Humanity is what digital transformation needs most.
It’s worth thinking about this again.
never stop evolving.
stay human.
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Creative Planner, Communication Psychologist in Training, Systemic Business Coach, Facilitator, Mentor, Sparring Partner, VR Expert (XR-C)
