Pulp Friction: How Innovation Makes Us Vulnerable to Threats

‘A lot of people just aren’t willing to go through the discomfort of learning something new, they tend to quit before that point.’

This is what a martial arts coach recently told me while we discussed new gym members’ inconsistency with their training. After reaching the pinnacle of his disciplines in martial arts and moving into coaching in Australasia for the last decade, he understands the patterns and can pick those who will stick around from those who won’t within one or two classes.

He told me that, as cliche as it sounds, the common trait for those who commit was checking your ego at the door. If you can drop your ego and lean into beginners mind, then the world opens up, but you have to be ok with some friction.

I found this notion beautiful, and also a little sad because we all know people who miss out on this feeling of unfolding potential and the experiences it delivers. Based on coaches’ intel, there are typically two paths – attachment and identity tied to what you already know, or embracing a beginner’s mindset – which more than likely will involve friction.

Friction is the resistance encountered when moving over a surface, and between people, it refers to disagreements. In 2025, we experience an increasingly frictionless existence; anything we need can be delivered with a tap in an app, while dating is confined to phone swipes. Algorithms curate our viewing based on habits, and the social media beast is a topic for another time. This ‘on-demand’ world reflects how engineering and technology create a largely frictionless day-to-day life. Psychologist Esther Perel passionately highlights its impact on relationships; journalist Waleed Aly touched on friction in a recent conversation with Josh Szeps.

Unless it is intentionally incorporated or sought after, the modern world is designed to be as frictionless as possible, which potentially comes at a cost at both local and global levels. Dutch historian Rutger Bregman advocates for a greater good, encouraging success to be redefined. Applying this framework, friction plays a role because the easy choice isn’t always the right one. This is important in cybersecurity, where decisions or inactions can lead to serious consequences.

A frictionless world, while convenient, is not without its costs, especially in cybersecurity, where complacency can lead to vulnerabilities. It often deprives us and our communities of invaluable lessons learned by overcoming obstacles or navigating the friction in social interactions. Cybersecurity is, after all, about humans too, not just systems; systems with friction also help to keep the humans behind them safer, making it a bi-directional relationship.

It’s not a zero-sum game. Technology and human ingenuity bring numerous benefits; by embracing friction, we enhance our experiences, paving the way for greater long-term gains, nurturing deeper, more meaningful relationships, and ultimately making the world a safer place for everyone.