I just read a great article about the importance of reading fiction, particularly for males as it helps develop their ability to empathise, and it commented on the fact that online communication has influenced the decline of empathy. I often hear discussions of how, because of the internet and telephones, people spend less time with each other in person, making people less social, less connected, more introverted, etc. I wouldn't disagree with this entirely, but I don't think it's as straight forward as that. I don't believe that we are either social or anti-social, extroverted or introverted. I think technology has certainly transformed the way we socialise, with some ways of socialising becoming less popular, but, at the same time, with new ways of forming and strengthening relationships coming to life.
From this, I'm interested in the question of empathy in the digital world. Does digital media affect our ability to empathise? Empathy is a very important part of being a social human: it is what holds people together. If anyone has any insights into this question, do please share. This is something I'd like to spend some time researching and thinking about.
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