“Can human solidarity survive social media — and what if it can’t?”
That was the important question raised by Professor Nick Couldry (London School of Economics and Political Science) in his lecture organized by Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH) on the 9th April, 2025.
Drawing from his latest book The Space of the World (Polity, 2024), Couldry explored how today’s commercial digital platforms do more than mediate our interactions – they fundamentally reshape the space of global human communication. In an ecosystem where tech companies profit from data extraction and behavioral manipulation, even “the social air we breathe,” as Couldry puts it, is turned into a commodity.
The consequences are stark: a digital space that is increasingly polarized, intense, and toxic – and poorly suited to the solidarity and cooperation humanity needs to confront its greatest collective challenges.
Couldry’s talk not only diagnosed the problem, but also pointed toward possible alternatives. He invited the audience to imagine more just and supportive digital futures — and consider how these could be advanced, even as tech regulation becomes a tool in global geopolitical struggles.
The event drew a full room and sparked a lively and thoughtful discussion, underscoring the timeliness and urgency of the topic.
The lecture was organized by HSSH, with warm thanks to the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies for generously providing the venue in their beautiful Common Room.
The Space of the World is available from Polity. Use the code NC30 on their website for a 30% discount.