Yet Konrath’s work is not all doom and gloom, and she doesn’t believe that all technology leads to bad habits. For example, she’s looking for remedies, including the development of a smartphone app (the Random App of Kindness) designed to help teens build empathy.
But Konrath offers an even simpler discipline to boost empathy: volunteering. Her research verifies the common sense instinct that serving others can build empathy. It could involve tutoring students who face various challenges, or serving food to the homeless at a rescue mission.
Russ Pulliam
