Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso A New Year with Writer Jia Tolentino (‘Trick Mirror’)
9 snips
Jan 5, 2025 Join Jia Tolentino, a staff writer at The New Yorker and bestselling author of *Trick Mirror*, as she dives deep into the complexities of our digital age. She explores the erosion of online privacy, the potential TikTok ban, and her experiment with self-surveillance during her hidden pregnancy. Tolentino reflects on how data is monetized, the unsettling realities of screen time on children, and shares her experiences growing up in Houston. The conversation swings between optimism and pessimism, ultimately celebrating the liberating power of writing.
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TikTok and Surveillance
- TikTok's addictive nature contributes to "brain rot".
- Early internet experiences, while addictive, were less surveilled and exploitative than current social media.
Hidden Pregnancy Experiment
- Jia Tolentino conducted a "hidden pregnancy experiment", avoiding sharing her pregnancy with technology.
- She aimed to reclaim privacy and reduce reliance on internet consultations during pregnancy.
Surveillance and Anxiety
- Constant surveillance increases anxiety and paranoia, mirroring societal trends.
- This contrasts with Jia Tolentino's belief in the importance of un-surveilled experiences for genuine human connection.
