IRL: The Power of Human Connection

Part of SXSW 2023

This event took place on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 2:30 PM UTC.

Venue: JW Marriott, Salon GH. Over the pandemic, people turned to Zoom experiences and online platforms in droves out of necessity, but we need in-person connections to thrive—the World Happiness Report concludes that IRL experiences increase mental health, happiness, and well-being. Now, real life experiences are surging to levels even higher than pre-Covid: the average Eventbrite creator is holding more events than in 2019, AnyRoad reported record bookings, and Meow Wolf opened two new immersive experiences during the pandemic (with Omega Mart and Convergence Station breaking records for ticket sales). In this discussion, explore the role of in-person experiences in creating human connection, and how to create engaging experiences at scale that lead to powerful movements.