--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Digital technology is both arousing and…" description: "\"Digital technology is both arousing and distancing. We don't look at the users on the other side as people. They aren't - they're just usernames, Faceb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/douglas-rushkoff-2188_digital_digital-technology-is-both-arousing-and_1815759.png" --- # Digital technology is both arousing and distancing. We… ![“Digital technology is both arousing and distancing. We don't look at the users on the other side as people. They aren't - they're just usernames, Facebook photos and Twitter handles.” quote by Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/douglas-rushkoff-2188_digital_digital-technology-is-both-arousing-and_1815759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/douglas-rushkoff-2188_digital_digital-technology-is-both-arousing-and_1815759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/douglas-rushkoff-2188_digital_digital-technology-is-both-arousing-and_1815759.png) > “Digital technology is both arousing and distancing. We don't look at the users on the other side as people. They aren't - they're just usernames, Facebook photos and Twitter handles.” [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Digital tech creates distance, reducing people to usernames and images, eroding empathy. **In simple terms:** Tech reduces people to data. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy and see users as humans. Themes technology empathy dehumanization social media Mood concerned thoughtful Type technological social When to use this quote - online community building - digital literacy training - mindful social media use Key Concepts digital ethics human-centered design communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we humanize online interactions? - What policies promote digital empathy? A Different Perspective Overcoming entrenched habits is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Digital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digital/) [Digital technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digital-technology/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [More than any other modern tool, computers are a total mystery to their users. Most people never open them up to fix them or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/more-than-any-other-modern-tool-computers-are-a-total-mystery-to/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [This is true for most new products. The majority of people you're competing with are non-users. 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