> Before smartphones usually, you'd make up conversation, smalltalk, even if you didn't want to talk or had anything interesting to say. These days instead of doing that people just seem to ignore each other and do something that is interesting, using their phones.

That is precisely the root of the problem. That means that the interpersonal relationships with friends and family have been hijacked by for-profit organizations pushing "more interesting" content. This contributes to dividing society even more.

That isn't new - just look at old photographs of commuter trains packed to the brim with everyone burying their face in a newspaper. Even the for profit part isn't new. At this point a lack of people for smalltalk is as much of a societal problem as the inability to find a badminton partner in say Eugene, Iowa. It is the norm and it is time to accept that people don't like talking with random strangers about nothing of consequence out of boredom.

Similarly parents not being attentive enough to their children is also sadly not new. (Satisfaction is also likely elusive for kids given the sheer craving they have proving incompatible with maintaining a house and necessary income.)

Although I wonder about the psychological impact of that being combined with helicopter parents going full surveillance state as the discourse shifts from "Tracking bands on your kid? That sounds stupid and horrifying." to being seriously considered and accepted. Like asking for a very locked down "can call only them with GPS" wrisrtwatch-phone." Society pendulums too much for linear social progressions and I hope it does so before we reach "You don't have trackers on your kid what the hell is wrong with you!" norms.

It must be frustrating being constantly watched yet never being able to receive attention when desired.

It might not be new, but newspapers had to target the general public. Today's feeds are hyperfocused on individuals and their preferences.

Or it means that people have an escape from unwanted interactions they were previously forced into.

How are you forced into a conversation with a group of people you chose to go somewhere with? If you didn't want to talk with them, don't accept their invitation to get coffee

Are we really forced into those interactions?

It is very rare that you really have to talk to someone, IME. Usually, it's more of a..."I don't really like or have a lot of common with this person but I've known them forever so what the heck"

> Before smartphones usually, you'd make up conversation, smalltalk, even if you didn't want to talk or had anything interesting to say.

No you didn't. You read a newspaper or magazine. Even growing up in the 80s I remember sitting around the table, each of us reading a different section of the LA times, and then swapping 1/2 way through the meal.

That kind of thing was not nearly as widespread as phone usage today; not by a very long shot. Maybe you did that, but I would say that was probably very rare. The use of phones is nearly ubiquitous, because they have addictive properties that paper simply doesn’t.

> Before smartphones usually, you'd make up conversation, smalltalk, even if you didn't want to talk or had anything interesting to say.

Also, before smartphones, people were smoking to have something in their hands.

I'm not sure that more adaptation is going to make people more considerate in using devices practically designed to encourage this behavior.

I called my Dad email dad (back when we had dialup) and then blackberry dad and now he is Facebook/WhatsApp/iphone dad. .. still love him though :)