With opportunities for digital connection at an all-time high, and loneliness now a public health concern, are we truly more connected – or just more networked?

Join us in the RSA Great Room for a panel exploring whether technology is helping us form meaningful relationships or simply keeping us online.

Journalist and founder of The Logging Off Club, Adele Zeynep Walton, shares a Gen Z perspective on stepping back from platforms to find real-world connections. Nicola Gunby, co-founder of friendship app Cliq, offers insight into designing tech that actually brings people together offline. Dr Tom Chatfield, author and tech philosopher, analyses our experiences and understanding of technology, with a particular focus on critical thinking, AI and ethics. The event will be chaired by leading tech strategist and researcher Rachel Coldicutt, guiding a discussion that unpacks the messy, hopeful, and urgent future of human connection.

Speakers

  • Adele Zeynep Walton, Journalist and author
  • Nicola Gunby, Co-founder of Cliq
  • Dr Tom Chatfield, Author and tech philosopher

Chair

  • Rachel Coldicutt, Researcher and strategist

Adele Zeynep Walton

Journalist and author

Black and white portrait of a young woman with long, dark hair, wearing a necklace that says "Zeynep." She has a neutral expression and stands outdoors, suggesting a quiet connection to the blurred natural background.

Nicola Gunby

Co-founder of Cliq

A young woman with long, wavy blonde hair smiles at the camera, radiating warmth and connection. She is wearing a dark blazer over a top and a small necklace. The black and white photo features a plain light background.

Dr Tom Chatfield

Author and tech philosopher

A man with short hair wearing a light-colored, striped shirt looks directly at the camera, evoking a sense of connection. The background is blurred with circular light patterns, suggesting outdoor greenery. The image is in black and white.

Rachel Coldicutt

Researcher and strategist

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short, straight hair and bangs, wearing large glasses and a patterned shirt, radiating warmth and connection against a plain white background.

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