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Make things better by making better things.
It would be rude to pull out a newspaper and start reading it while in the middle of a conversation with someone. Culturally, however, we don’t feel the same pressure when pulling out our phones and scrolling while having the same conversation. We are still figuring out these rules. But what I think is worth noting is how much of a hold these devices have on us. If we ignore real connections right in front of us instead of the chance to find them online, we are kidding ourselves about what this tech is.
“Sorry, this might be important,”—phrases we would never have said in an analog world. Thirty years ago, unless the phone rang, there were fewer interruptions. You turned off the TV when the company came over to give your full attention.
Something is missing today. It’s not an external component but a promise to give someone your attention. We are so used to having our attention hacked that we can’t see how much it affects our outcomes.
If you haven’t tried in a while, delete social media from your phone—not your account, just your phone—and see what happens. See what you notice.