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The Technology Paradox: How Modern Tools Both Help and Hurt Us

Technology is essential for modern life, but as humans and particularly as employees, far too many of us are drowning in it. What was supposed to improve our performance and productivity has become a rat’s nest of software platforms and distractions that are killing performance, productivity, and well-being. Generative AI has only amplified the noise and the pace of change.

Exploring Humane Technology with Rebecca Kirstein Resch

Good news is there’s a better way. My guest is Rebecca Kirstein Resch. She’s at the forefront of using humane technology to help humans thrive. We dig deep into the critical people and technology challenges facing leaders and organizations today, and the implications for the sustainability of their businesses and workforce.

Welcome to the Working Well Podcast

Welcome to the Working Well podcast, a show that explores the rapidly changing landscape of work and well-being. Each episode, we dive into the hottest topics in leadership, human flourishing, and the future of work. I’m your host, Tim Borks.

Introducing Rebecca Kirstein Resch

Rebecca, it’s so awesome to have you on the show. After our last conversation, I’m excited to chat about technology, people, humanity, and all the different amazing things that are happening in our world and how they impact people, performance, and business. How have you been?

I’ve been great. Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited for this conversation.

The Technology Paradox Explained

It’s going to be awesome. Now, quick little update on what we chatted about in our last conversation—lots of different areas. We’re going to talk a bit about the technology paradox today. Can you tell me, what is the technology paradox?

What is the Technology Paradox?

Well, I think we all feel it, whether we can put words to it or not. But, you know, I think we all know that technology is supposed to make our lives easier, and in many ways, it does. It makes our lives easier, more connected, and improves our productivity. It does all these great things for us.

But the paradox is that it also causes us techno stress. We’re checking, I don’t even know how many platforms anymore. We’re on a whole bunch of different platforms at work, and a whole bunch of different platforms in our day-to-day lives. We don’t necessarily have a sense of what digital wellness is or what it looks like. We haven’t been taught those skills. We just kind of fell into this world where technology became a part of everything that we do. While it makes our lives better, it also significantly detracts from our well-being, our sense of connection, and presence. And it’s really hurting us in a lot of ways.

Addressing Techno Stress and Digital Wellness

The good news is that there’s something we can do about it—there’s a lot we can do about it.

Defining Digital Wellbeing

You mentioned the term, was it techno wellness or techno stress?

Yes, techno stress, but also the wellness around technology. I can’t remember the exact term—digital wellbeing.

Digital wellness, digital wellbeing. People hear wellbeing and they hear digital, and they often don’t think those connect at all. Can you talk about what your definition of digital wellbeing is?

What is Digital Wellbeing?

Yeah, absolutely. I think digital wellbeing is kind of a new term for a lot of people. There’s an amazing organization that’s a partner of ours called the Digital Wellness Institute, and they have a whole bunch of amazing tools for students, parents, organizational leaders, and organizations themselves.

Digital wellness is really about using technology in ways that enhance and improve our lives, but don’t detract from our experience as human beings. They have an amazing definition that’s probably far better than mine that I couldn’t quote if I tried. But at the end of the day, digital wellness is about recognizing how technology can dramatically impact our lives in negative ways, and taking steps towards mitigating those risks for ourselves, our families, and certainly as leaders and organizations for our employees.

Examples of Poor Digital Wellbeing: Doomscrolling

Imagine doomscrolling social media at three in the morning—that isn’t digital wellness.

That’s a great example of how we get caught up in technology. I think we all now know that these platforms are designed to suck us in. The term “race to the bottom of the brainstem” is what the Center for Humane Technology uses to describe social media platforms.

The Race to the Bottom of the Brainstem

That’s exactly what those platforms are designed for—to keep us there as long as possible, to log as many hours as possible on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or any of these platforms. These technologies are designed not for human thriving but to suck us in and prey on human vulnerabilities. And that is exactly what we need to be aware of as consumers of technology. We need to find ways to mitigate that for ourselves, our organizations, and certainly our kids.

Humane Technology: Using Tech for Good

You’ve talked about humane technology, and based on what you’ve just said, I imagine humane technology is the digital wellness side of how we use technology for good. What ways do you see humane technology happening in the market right now?

Humane Technology in Practice

I see it in a couple of different ways. First, there’s digital wellness, where we devise ways to protect ourselves, become more aware of how technology affects us, and find strategies in our lives to mitigate technology use. This includes how technology affects us at work, at home, and our kids. That’s the digital wellness component—what can we actually do about this?

But when I talk about humane technology, I mean it from the perspective of technology creators, of which I am one. As the CEO of a technology company, it’s incredibly important that those who are developing, designing, and creating technologies for human use understand the risks and create outcomes that improve human life.

The Challenges of Building Humane Technology

We have to understand that the entire model we’re signing up for when we start a technology company is based on the economic model. The VC model is designed to invest in products like ours—technology companies—with the goal of growth at all costs. That does not take into account human thriving, human flourishing, or anything of that sort. It’s really about keeping users engaged with technology for as long as possible—how many daily active users, how many hours are those users logging. That’s what equals revenue.

The way technology companies are designed, it’s difficult for founders like us to build responsible, humane technology because we have to go outside of that paradigm. We need investors who believe in it and customers who want technology that supports people to thrive, mitigating risks—especially in social technologies, which our workplace technology is. Our goal is not to keep users engaged as long as possible but to help them get the knowledge they need, get out into the real world, and use that knowledge in real applications, solving problems with real people in real organizations.

The Economic Paradox of Technology

This approach doesn’t fit the current economic paradigm, which focuses on extraction. Our technology is not designed to be extractive—it’s designed for human thriving, which is a bit of a paradox.

Examples of Positive Technology Use

If we look at the bigger picture of technology, I get the economic model, and we see it in all the social media platforms. But what are some examples where that “race to the bottom of the brainstem” is used positively to help people make positive behaviors rather than doomscrolling?

Absolutely. Whether we’re talking about meditation apps, lifestyle apps, or exercise apps—like the reminder from my Fitbit to get up after an hour—these are examples of positive behaviors that I have agreed to. I’m knowingly allowing technology to collect my data, compare it to other people’s data, and help me make better decisions about my health.

The Importance of Consensual Technology Use

When I have a wearable on my wrist, I want to monitor my sleep, steps, heart rate, and more. This data helps me improve my decisions about my health. Technologies like these are designed not only to positively impact health and well-being but are also consensual. I’ve decided to participate.

In contrast, social media platforms are not truly optional anymore. For business people, it’s often a must, and young people can face social ostracization if they aren’t on these platforms. Social media has become so embedded in our culture that it’s almost non-consensual—it’s something you have to do in many parts of the world.

Balancing the Positive and Negative Sides of Technology

I always see the positive side of technology. Of course, there are downsides and nefarious uses, but I think the upside is much greater. However, I also understand the challenges of social media, especially with teenagers. We have to set guardrails to prevent negative impacts.

Understanding the Impact of Technology on Youth

Most young people aren’t thinking about the effects of technology on their brain—they just want to stay in the loop. There are many positive aspects, but we’re often unaware of the long-term effects on our brains or what it’s taking away from us. To be fair, most adults aren’t doing any better.

The Paradox of Technology and Productivity

One topic we discussed was how technology can improve and reduce productivity. What are you seeing in this area?

Technology’s Role in Productivity

This is one of my favorite topics. Technology can improve productivity, especially with the rise of generative AI. Everyone is thinking about how AI can improve productivity, but we’re also inundated with technology. In large organizations, there are over 300 software as a service (SaaS) applications being used. Many of these tools aren’t integrated, leading to constant context switching and interruptions from Slack and Teams notifications.

The Myth of Multitasking and the Cost of Context Switching

The average knowledge worker receives 237 workplace communication notifications a day. We spend 30% of our time looking for information or people who can help us. The amount of emails we receive has skyrocketed, and there are now multiple platforms for checking messages. No wonder people feel frazzled and burnt out—productivity isn’t increasing as we expect.

The Tyranny of the Urgent

We often confuse being busy with being productive. Amy Blankson from the Digital Wellness Institute calls it the “tyranny of the urgent.” Everything feels urgent, making it difficult to prioritize what truly matters. Organizations need to create better systems and give employees the tools to disconnect.

The Role of Generative AI in Workplace Knowledge

Generative AI brings a new set of challenges—accuracy, validation, and customization. Most organizations still lack a strategy around AI. Many companies are just trying to keep up with competitors without a broader vision, leading to increased stress for employees.

The Importance of Humans in the AI Loop

Generative AI can be helpful, but it’s still only as good as the data it’s fed. Written information represents only 20% of organizational knowledge, while 80% is in people’s heads. We need humans to validate AI outputs and share contextual knowledge. Having real humans in the loop helps ensure that AI systems deliver trusted, accurate information.

Creating an AI-Supported Internal Knowledge Base

Our company is focused on improving the day-to-day workplace experience for human flourishing. We aim to build technology that not only improves productivity but also connects people to experts within the organization. This approach is like creating an AI-supported internal Wikipedia that incorporates the trusted knowledge of the people in the organization.

Employee Well-Being and Engagement

One challenge I work on with organizations is employee well-being and engagement. Many employees are disengaged, and an increasing number are actively disengaged. What can companies do to improve engagement?

Measuring Engagement and Well-Being

First, we’re not measuring the right things. Engagement and well-being aren’t the same—people can be engaged without thriving. We should be measuring employee well-being and all facets of human flourishing.

Cultural Issues Affecting Employee Engagement

Engagement is ultimately a cultural issue. Many employees do not feel valued, do not understand how their work contributes to the organization’s goals, and lack social connections at work. Engagement metrics often overlook the reasons why people are disengaged, and at the core, these are issues of leadership and culture.

The Shift Toward Human-Centered Leadership

Organizations that will thrive are those that prioritize genuine care for their people. Younger generations demand well-being and want to work for companies that make a positive social impact. Companies that do not value human thriving will struggle to attract and retain talent.

Trauma-Informed Leadership: A Necessity for the Future

If you’re leading an organization in 2024, you need to be trauma-informed. Most of your people have been through significant trauma in the last five years, and if you don’t understand the impact on their performance, you cannot lead effectively.

The Importance of Leadership Training and Development

Leadership training needs to start earlier, and it should focus on emotional intelligence, trauma-informed practices, and understanding oneself and others. These skills are essential for leaders to support their teams effectively in today’s world.

Using Technology to Scale Positive Change

We need to use technology for good, scaling learning and supporting people in accessing the knowledge they need. This is the focus of our work at Inkly—creating technology that helps people thrive by connecting them with trusted information and experts.

Advice for Leaders: Focus on Digital Wellness

Rebecca’s advice to leaders is to focus on digital wellness for themselves and their teams. She suggests resources like the Digital Wellness Institute, the Center for Humane Technology, and her own paper, “Questions Are the Answer,” available on Inkly’s website.

Every Company is a Technology Company

Tim concludes by pointing out that, in today’s world, every company is a technology company. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, technology is a crucial part of success. Leaders must take responsibility for how technology is used in their organization and ensure it benefits both their people and their business.

The Growing Role of Technology in Business

Technology is becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity. Even during the pandemic, when a homeless man in San Francisco was using contactless payments, it became evident—everyone is in the technology business.

Final Thoughts: Technology, Humanity, and Flourishing

Rebecca, it’s been fantastic to chat. We’ve covered so much, and I can’t wait for our next conversation. We’ve got more episodes to do—next time, let’s dive into breathing. Thank you so much for being here.

That wraps up another episode of the Working Well Podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Have ideas for guests or topics? Message me through LinkedIn or on the contact page of timboris.com. Thanks for tuning in—I’m Tim Borks with Fresh Wellness Group, and I look forward to seeing you on the next episode.