In Favor of Friction

The false promise of "seamless" relationships

A Gentoo penguin sliding down a slippery rock observed by a Chinstrap penguin. Source: Shutterstock

Over a decade ago, Mark Zuckerberg promised Facebook users a “frictionless experience.” Apple has used words like “automatic,” “effortless,” and “seamless” to describe their products over the years.

How has the increased desire for frictionless experiences seeped into our relationships? I recently finished Christine Rosen’s The Extinction of Experience, a slightly depressing but fascinating read.