Do Ted Talks Matter?

            It seems like an incredible idea; professionals from every industry convening at a single conference, freely discussing concepts that cross the boundaries of profession. An opportunity not just for networking, but for learning and evolving ideas.

            That’s the perception of the Ted conferences, the umbrella term used to refer to more than a dozen subtypes of conference run by the Sapling Foundation. Initially a conference aimed at tech professionals, it has since evolved to include people from every field of study. From this has emerged the Ted Talk, short presentations on anything from art or science by notable people like Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, and Bill Graham. Since 2006, videos of these have been recorded and posted online, free to access, and this has led to their booming popularity.

            However, this popularity doesn’t necessarily equate to importance. Ted Talks have the benefit of fame; but do they have value?

            At first glance, it would certainly seem so. An open forum to thoughtfully discuss ideas is an amazing tool for communication. There has to be some power in allowing the rich and famous, intellectuals and artists, to speak about their revolutionary ideas to the poor, starving masses.

            Oh, wait, sorry. I think I just tipped my hand and gave away my point. I don’t actually think Ted Talks are that great.

            There are actually a lot of problems with Ted Talks. A common criticism is that the conference itself is incredibly elitist. At over $6000 a ticket, the event is only open to people who can afford to pay out of pocket. Not only is it expensive, but horror stories about the experience behind the event is intimidating as well. One speaker, Eddie Huang, has spoken online about how difficult it is to work with the organizers.

             Ted Talks are also suffering as a victim of their own success. As they exhaust their lineup of talented speakers – Bill Gates can only speak so many times – the overall quality of the speeches has been decreasing. More often, the talks trend towards the soundbiteable – things that can be chopped up into short, interesting clips. Unfortunately, I can’t give an objective measure of quality. However, I can link two Ted Talks that I feel really demonstrate the quality of the conferences. First: The coolest animal you know nothing about... and how we can save it. A painful talk with a worse title. And on top of that: A Beatboxing Lesson from a Father Daughter Duo. If you don’t have time to watch, the talk is eight minutes of beatboxing, and one note that beatboxing started in New York.

            That’s not to say that none of the talks have value. In the past, Ted Talks have generated some truly insightful discussions on ideas. However, I believe that without a major reworking of the conference, and an examination of the principles behind it, things will only get worse.

            Here’s a Tedx talk.