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Jul 31, 2016

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." --Albert Einstein

How Smartphones Are Killing Conversation

Today's cell phones threaten to hinder humanity rather than help unless we take control of our behavior and put people first. In her new book, "Reclaiming Conversation," MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle, author of the bestseller "Alone Together," explores the social effects of cell phones and the importance of honoring and protecting the quality of conversation in our everyday lives. In this interview, Turkle talks about cell phone habits that can harm our interactions with others and affect our capacity for empathy and intimacy. Taking out phones during conversations, using them to combat boredom, texting to avoid emotional confrontations, over-using social media, and prioritizing e-mails over face-to-face interactions at work all can have negative effects. There is hope, however; we can choose to prioritize real conversation and live in harmony with technology. Through research, Turkle tells us how.