Community and connection project## **What IdeaVerse is about**
**We meet usually once a month to discuss some of the current challenges as well and perhaps come up with new ideas on how to overcome them. For those who came regularly, this next meetup would be slightly different. We will do a workshop on solving real world problems.**
The problem we will attempt to solve is the dissolution of communities and spaces where people connect in person, and with it, our increased isolation and loneliness.
There are many reasons why this is happening:
\- replacement of religion with science as a beacon of meaning\, which seems to be much less great at inspiring connection;
\- economic forces boosting our ego\, and make it easier to pay for random strangers for help then making lasting connections with people\.
\- political polarization
\- \(anti\)social media \(as I call it\) and now AI offering simulations of relationships\.
\- climate change increasing our distrust in a better future and the importance of investing in life and people\.
\- closing down of third spaces like churches\, malls and retail stores \(due to online shopping\)\, youth centers and increase in remote work\.
These are all causes we'll explore, together with examples of how other people expressed they feel about this issue from research, reasons why this issue exists as well as examples of small victories against this tide.
We'll work in small groups putting all this knowledge together with out imagination and attempt to find local solutions to similar problems here in Prague.
This is is more than a discussion. It's an exploration of our ability to work together to effect change in ourselves and in our social circles.
**Some suggested reading/watching:**
1. "Contrary to the perception that isolation and loneliness primarily affect older people in high-income countries, they impact the health and well-being of all age groups across the world. One in four older people experience social isolation and the rates are broadly similar in all regions. Among adolescents, between 5–15% experience loneliness, according to research findings." (3 minute read - [WHO launches commission to foster social connection](https://www.who.int/news/item/15-11-2023-who-launches-commission-to-foster-social-connection))
2. "Many popular sitcoms center around what's known as a third place-- for example, Central Park in Friends or the Bull and Finch Pub from Cheers. Like the theme song goes, it's somewhere where everybody knows your name, where you can socialize in a place other than your home or work and build some community.
But with the whole world accessible on your smartphone, it's kind of hard to resist the call of the couch. And it's hurting us more than we think." (10 minute Podcast [Third places’ may be the answer to America’s loneliness epidemic](https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/05/23/third-places-may-be-the-answer-to-americas-loneliness-epidemic))
3. “These verdicts mark an unsurprising breaking point. Negative sentiment toward social media has been building for years, and now it’s finally boiled over,” said Mike Proulx, a director at Forrester, a market research company. (4 minute read - [How the landmark verdict against Meta and YouTube could hit their businesses](https://www.aol.com/finance/landmark-verdict-against-meta-youtube-100000070.html))
**The meeting is free to attend, but please buy a drink or two at our patron's place, to make them happy.**