Reversing Social Isolation: Why and how to design for human connection and flourishing
Social isolation has been building for decades — but the loneliness crisis is now colliding with a critical inflection point. Stanford researcher Steven Crane and Twyne founder Thorsten Hoins will explore the evolutionary roots of human connection and why so much of modern life works against it. With AI poised to either deepen the crisis or help reverse it, they'll discuss how technologists and designers can make choices that work with our social nature — and open the floor for a live conversation with the audience.
Speakers:
Thorsten Hoins, is the founder of TWYNE, a people-first platform designed to help reverse social isolation by reconnecting neighbors in real life. A serial social entrepreneur, he has spent more than three decades building brands, launching ventures, and turning original ideas into funded companies. Throughout his career, Thorsten has bridged the worlds of business and mission-driven organizations, focusing on ideas that create meaningful prosocial impact. TWYNE reflects his belief that technology should serve people rather than capture their attention. By making it easier for nearby people to meet face-to-face, he aims to strengthen neighborhoods, rebuild everyday connection, and create a healthier social future in an increasingly digital world.
Steven Michael Crane, MS, is a researcher, behavior designer, and speaker working at the intersection of social connection science, technology, and human flourishing. At Stanford University, he heads the Social Engagement Pillar with Stanford Lifestyle Medicine — leading research on social connection interventions, psychometrics, and behavior change. As founder of Synaptic Insights Consulting, he translates rigorous science into real-world products, courses, and interventions for organizations building a more connected world.
His work spans academia, industry, and philanthropy — from peer-reviewed research and large-scale national survey initiatives to digital products and structured social interventions. As a speaker, he has addressed audiences across four continents on how we can design a flourishing life amid the challenges of the modern world.
His core belief: social connection is not only central to our humanity, it is the superpower we must engage as we chart our future as a species
Hosted by Compassion 2.0 & Human+Tech Week
This week is hosted by DrawBridge at 2 Embarcadero Center. For nearly 40 years, DrawBridge has brought free, trauma-informed expressive arts programs to children across the Bay Area — many experiencing housing instability — meeting kids where they are and staying long enough to matter. We are guests in their home. drawbridge.org