Face-to-face conversation declines amid rise of digital technology

Research indicates a significant decline in face-to-face communication, with studies showing a 28% decrease in in-person conversations. On average, individuals are reportedly using 120,000 fewer words annually as digital technology and social media replace traditional interaction.

Experts warn that this shift impacts human connection and neurological social circuits. Sociologists and neurologists note that digital communication lacks essential human components such as visual interaction, empathy, and the ability to recognize vocal patterns, tone, and intonation.

In the cultural sphere, the Galician duo Fillas de Cassandra is using their music to advocate for the importance of traditional conversation and the ‘tertulia’—the act of gathering to talk—as a form of resistance against the dominance of social media.