To help strengthen empathy, we need to carve out sacred spaces for interaction that are device-free. We need to engage in face-to-face conversations and not allow ourselves to get distracted by technology.
Parents and teachers need to understand the inverse relationship between technology and empathy: As screen time goes up, empathy goes down.
Families need to engage in more volunteer work — not to build their child’s resume, but to truly connect with others and understand different perspectives. Schools need to help students develop empathy through classroom reading and collaborative assignments. But most importantly, we must all develop greater digital discipline. As technology has made our world smaller, empathy has become even more critical to our success and well-being.
Daniel Riseman,
