Bad thing Quote by Noam Chomsky
“On the other hand, a lot of the internet - I don't know the percentage, but I am sure a great mass of internet use - is pretty superficial interaction amongst people. Its not necessarily a bad thing. A teenager wants to talk to her friend, that's fine, but I think it probably contributes to atomization, which is a threat to the society.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Lecture on Internet Society, 2015
Online interactions often stay surface‑level, fostering social atomization that threatens community cohesion.
In simple terms: Internet can isolate people despite connecting them.
Key Takeaway
Promote deeper, meaningful connections online.
Themes
technology
society
communication
atomization
community
media
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
social
reflective
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- community building
- family dialogue
Key Concepts
social media
digital sociology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What can we do to encourage deeper online dialogue?
- How does superficial interaction affect mental health?
A Different Perspective
Superficial interaction may also provide necessary low‑stakes social practice.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
