by 
A Year Offline, What I Have Learned | Paul Miller | TEDxEutropolis
Paul Miller is an American Technology Journalist from Springfield, Missouri and senior editor for The Verge. During the past year he decided to disconnect from the hyperconnected world in an attempt to ‘find himself’ and become more productive. He abandoned the internet and disconnected from all Social Media, returning to a life before the net, apps and smartphones.
His experiment gained worldwide media attention when he published his article ‘I’m still here’ at The Verge. After a year of living ‘disconnected’ he published his findings and caused quite a discussion on hyperconnectivity and the influence of the internet on our daily lives.
At TEDxEutropolis Paul Miller will speak on his experiment ‘Without the Internet’ and his view on the intertwined worlds of living both online and offline. If you want to read his article entitled ‘I’m still here’ for The Verge, just follow the links. In the article Miller explains how the internet (and leaving it) influenced his life, which eventually also inspired a video documentary.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
He did right I ver my 1st phone at 21 And with no internet of course I’m the same age like this guy and in my country I used to study in 2 diferent universities at the same time so I got the most productive years until Internet and smart phones came to my life.
I deleted all my social medias, and now I just use internet to study. That’s the best thing I’ve ever made
The internet is a tool. You use it to make your life simpler. This isn’t more than obsessive compulsive behaviour.
Internet is good but it is taken to a far extent.
Practically free advertising for my business…
SPOILER ALRT: The internet is not a person forcing you to do anything. You can quit going on it whenever you want. No one is required. I don’t get how deleting an instagram just makes everything better when you can just make a new account.
In 2008 I was a kid in grade 2, I didn’t watch TV for more than 365 days and I also didn’t use the internet in that time. Why am I not on TED? Let’s not make such a big deal…
OMG
I’ve seen 100s of ted talks this one was a waste of time. This guy literally has no rational point like obviously there is a life aside from the internet duh…
Looks like someone read the Unabomber manifesto
Internet itself could be bad if we didn’t used this for a purpose or if we just spent all of our time neither wasting our time. It’s sad to know that internet on this generation is a barrier to socialize to other people. There’s no personal communication at all.
You’re great dude. ?
Enjoying wasting time isn’t wasted time.
Great speech! Crowd is dead tho
I was a late bloomer to smart phones (i’m 40) and only got my first cell 4 years ago; so I know life before and after. The past 2 years I got hooked on social media, IG, youtube etc. At first it was like a new romance, “why did I not plug in sooner?”…….but now I realize how addicted I’ve become. My focus used to be quite stong; now its being held by a thread. Please take this as a loving warning.
Quitting the internet to play video games does not count.
Not to sound like a Bible thumping moron but. I think this is his best game ever. Social media! You can pollute minds of the simpleton. Sway the intelligent! Make people unsure about what to believe. And divide the family. Anyone sitting down to dinner that mom made around the table. Talking to each other about your day and stuff??? We used to. Not anymore!!
I deleted Instagram and made a video of my experience! I’d love it if you guys checked it out đ
I miss actually talking to people…i deleted my fb messenger because people who have my phone number were texting and fb calling me…why not just call my phone to see how i am? Why has it come to internet posts to check on each other? I miss the smell the library used to have…working hard to find an answer to something and being proud because I found it…im only in my late 30’s and call my younger days back in the day already because how fast everything has and is changing
Ironically, the only way I was able to see this was because of the internet
How would you look up directions and random facts?? Psh. Don’t say a map and the library.
Respect to this dude and everything he said! I totally empathize with him and kinda feel the same tbh
I’m UNPLUGGING…might check some email…its 50/50.
i can’t even quit the internet if i wanted to, in school everything is done online now đ
I support this balance, the Internet is a great universal library and a perfect way to reach those who are far away from us, but I can´t understand the principles that guide us to share personal matters on it. He spoke about sharing about his nephew and the lightsaber experience, but why? Why do we have to share that? We can find it funny without spreading all around the globe, other people may find it funny ok but that won´t add nothing to ther life so this is nobody’s gain. Why do we need to do it?
Millennial douch bag addicted to the internet. Yes kids life exists outside the screen.
Was this guy lowkey ‘Tim & Eric’-ing us? He definitely said ‘Innernette’ a lot.
Maybe that’s the solution: get rid of the internet and embrace the Innernette
back in 2012 the internet didnt hold the value it holds now some of us earn on a living via internet
I have lost my phone. 15th days and still counting……..but i feel awsome !!!
I’m gone try this for a week. OK… Shuts down ? â
He’s totally right we should take control over our usage of technology and inherently internet in order to have a better life. In my case, cutting video games, useless internet/socialmedia/YouTube surfing and prioritizing meeting and interacting with people in real life and using the internet just as a tool to help me, not a real mean of socializing.
Same thing Iâm passing and same reasons that made me take the decision to quit socials
Lol few decades ago nobody was “connected” and suddenly there’s supposed to be a hidden wisdom from disconnecting. Maybe ask the older half of the population? Sounds like a self-importance stunt rather than a serious attempt to learn anything.
Aww I thought you were offline from computers as whole. I think you would have gotten a much bigger difference in that case.
The moral of his story is in the last minute of the video: you don’t need to quit the internet, you just need to find the balance.
If you are always 100% online, Â you will miss all the special moments. And if you’re 100% offline, you can never share about it. the key is keeping the balance !
He would look really good in short hair
Internet is a useful tool. Social media is the problem