What Are We Missing?

I just read an article by P.J. Manney of the Journal of Evolution & Technology entitled "Empathy in the Time of Technology: How Storytelling is the Key to Empathy." As the title suggests, Manney makes the conjecture that storytelling is the key to developing empathy in humans. He cites that while some degree of empathy appears to be innate in all of us from birth, the human race experienced spikes in empathy which coincided with technological developments. The first example of this instance was the development of writing, which made it possible for us to understand the thoughts and actions of others from a time different to our own. The next came with the dawn of the printing press, where printed words and stories were made available to the masses for the first time. Each of these historic developments tended to coincide with a spike in empathy among humans. So it would make sense that today, with all of the different technologies that are made available to us, empathy rates should be at an all time high.

But they're not.

On the contrary, a Scientific American article by Jamil Zaki entitled "What, Me Care? Young are Less Empathetic" reveals that Empathy rates have decreased among humans over the past 30 years. So what is it about today's technology that separates it from the technology of the past? What is it about cell phones and computers that have us going in reverse?

The answer may lie with how much time we spend with each other. Zaki makes it known that "In the past 30 years Americans have become more likely to live alone and less likely to join groups." We are living in the "Me Generation" (or as Time Magazine puts it, the Me Me Me Generation) where technology allows us to be more self-centered and narcissistic then ever before. Yes, we are connected to others in everything we do, but the content of our interactions through "social" media outlets tends to be more about the advancement of self over the advancement of community. Everything has become individualized, from Facebook profiles to email accounts. 

Modern technology has given us a sense of self which has been unavailable to those who came before us. We have become egotistical, not so much by choice, but by what has been thrust upon us. Our lack of attention we pay to others in our self-centered society is what is taking our empathy levels to new lows. Today, we can understand ourselves just fine. But without proper community and proper empathy, what is understanding anymore?