The Nostalgia of the Young

• Many young people grew up with parents clinging to their cellphones, which were just one more thing competing for attention. They realize that they could not count on full parental attention as long as the phone was nearby. They also realize that the processes of texting comes with pressure to return messages, and that text does not offer tone of voice, facial expressions, or other body language. The concept of full attention has become coveted and rare for some as habits of shared attention die hard. What were once personal letters are now shared blogs. Unlike real time conversations, people reflect for some period of time prior to responding. This changes the nature of these interactions. With instant access, you can get bad personal news when you aren’t with someone who can offer support.

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