The Princess of Wales has warned of the damage caused by smartphone and other screen addictions, and a world that is losing face-to-face interaction.
I an essay co-written with Professor Robert Waldinger of Harvard University, Princess Katherine notes that repeated studies show that people who are more connected to others stay healthier and are happier throughout their lives.
“We live increasingly lonelier lives, which research shows is toxic to human health, and it’s our young people (aged 16 to 24) that report being the loneliest of all – the very generation that should be forming the relationships that will sustain them throughout life.
“While new technology has many benefits, we must also acknowledge that it plays a complex and often troubling role in this epidemic of disconnection. While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they frequently do the opposite.”
She notes that smartphones, tablets, and computers have become sources of constant distraction, fragmenting focus and preventing us from giving others the undivided attention that relationships require.
“We sit together in the same room while our minds are scattered across dozens of apps, notifications, and feeds. We’re physically present but mentally absent, unable to fully engage with the people right in front of us.”
The essay draws on research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938, and represents the longest investigation into adult life ever conducted.
Over the decades, these researchers have studied every major domain of life: mental health, physical health, work, relationships, and ageing.
Using this data, Princess Katherine warned of losing our attentions to screens over people.
“This technological interference strikes at something fundamental: our undivided attention is the most precious gift we can give another person. Yet, increasingly, it’s the most difficult gift to offer.
“When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners, or respond to e-mails while playing with our children, we’re not just being distracted, we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires,” writes Princess Katherine.
You can read the full essay here.
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