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An intimately connected society has inevitably changed the dynamics of the home and the workplace.

"Technology doesn't just do things for us. It does things to us, changing not just what we do but who we are."
- Sherry Turkle (9)

Is it possible to find silence in an intimately connected society?

"Openness and conscientiousness can be judged most accurately through observing Facebook behaviour."
- Darbyshire et al. (1)

Social situations are a hotbed of multicommunication.

"I can't resist the buzz of my iPhone ... even when I'm in the middle of an in-person conversation."
- Leah Eichler (2)

One especially prevalent phenomenon is documenting one's meals, however trivial.

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are."
- Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (7)

Homes now possess a plethora of devices from computers to phones to tablets.

97% of homes have television, 83% have tablets, and 77% have smartphones. (4)

Instantaneous communication continues to ignite the debate over productivity.

"Overall labour productivity has only grown 1-2% per year during the tech boom."
- Ryan Fuller (3)

A decrease in social media use can help one focus and reduce distractions.

LeBron James does not use social media during the playoffs (8). He has three championships to show for it.

Imagine increasing our focus on relationships...

Increased social media use = increased divorce rates (8)

...Instead of our devices.

Creating "sacred spaces" in the home is one way to do this. (5)

Imagine the effects of rekindling dinner conversations.

Similar "Device-Free Zones" are now commonplace at places like airport lounges and libraries.

It is possible to find silence in an intimately connected society...

"We have sacrificed conversation for mere connection."
- Sherry Turkle (10)

...but it requires conscientiousness and intentionality.

Works Cited

• 1. Derbyshire, Demetria et al. "Don't Jude A (Face)Book By Its Cover: Exploring Judgement Accuracy Of Others' Personality On Facebook". Computers in Human Behaviour 58 (2016): 380 - 387. Web. 2 June 2017.
• 2. Eichler, Leah. "Sorry To Be Rude, By My Phone Needs Me". The Globe and Mail 2013. Web. 2 June 2017.

Works Cited

• 3. Fuller, Ryan. "The Paradox Of Workplace Productivity". Harvard Business Review 2016. Web. 2 June 2017.
• 4. Kabali, Hilda et al. "Exposure And Use Of Mobile Media Devices By Young Children". Pediatrics 136.6 (2015): n. pag. Web. 2 June 2017.

Works Cited

• 5. Knorr, Caroline. "3 Places Families Should Make Device-Free". Huffington Post 2016. Web. 2 June 2017.
• 6. McMenamin, Dave. "Cavaliers' Lebron James Hedges On Postseason Social Media Blackout". ESPN. N.p., 2016. Web. 2 June 2017.

Works Cited

• 7. Murphy, Kate. "First The Camera, Then The Fork". New York Times 2010. Web. 2 June 2017.
• 8. Rohampton, Jimmy. "Millennials, Here's How Social Media Impacts Your Relationships". Forbes 2017. Web. 2 June 2017.

Works Cited

• 9. Turkle, Sherry. "The Documented Life". New York Times 2013. Web. 2 June 2017.
• 10. Turkle, Sherry. "The Flight From Conversation". New York Times 2012. Web. 2 June 2017.