«Were half as empathetic as the generation before us… and I don’t know if we care.» That’s the issue Ari Saperstein explores in his talk about the “empathy deficit.” Saperstein examines the impact of social media and technology on emotional intelligence and human behavior. In telling his own story about hurt and forgiveness that spans a decade, he illustrates the importance of empathy.

Ari Saperstein (Pitzer College 15) is one of two winners of the 2015 TEDxClaremontColleges Student Speaker Competition, earning him a spot at the 2015 TEDx conference. Previously, he attended the Edmund Burke School in Washington D.C. and the Iowa Young Writers Workshop.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx