Disconnect to Reconnect: Rediscovering the Art of Listening in a Tech-Obsessed World
Phone addiction is eroding our social connections — what should we do?
Today, people walk with their heads down, looking at their phones. It becomes harder to spot someone on the street who doesn’t have headphones on or earbuds in. Phones are on the table beside us at dinner, and the sound or buzz of a notification perks our heads up immediately.
We are addicted to our phones.
It’s not just social media. Every day, we spend hours texting, watching videos, playing games, and squashing any instance of boredom we may feel.
We are all immersed in our own inner worlds rather than engaging with the people and world around us.
Some of my most cherished memories have been with strangers, or with people whose names I never would have learned if I had been looking down at my phone with my AirPods in.
Interacting with the doormen who man the building where I work has drastically brightened many of my days. Similarly, I always feel a sense of pride and happiness when I can help a lost-looking family find the right subway lines.
Engaging in human interaction, no matter how small and fleeting these moments might be, is…
