Has tech actually been driving us apart?

Why incels exist despite a cornucopia of dating and social media apps: How to Talk to People is a deep dive into why, in a world with endless potential for connection, we still struggle to build relationships.When technology brings us closer together than ever before, what are the barriers standing between us and forming real connections? Host Julie Beck of The Atlantic explores this paradox, with her latest episode, The Infrastructure of Community, analyzing how “efficiency culture” holds us back from connecting in public, and what it takes to actively and effectively participate in a community.

Beck unpacks the distinction between living in a “society” and a “community” — society governs our lives on a large scale, while community is built on a sense of belonging, support, and interpersonal relationships. The episode dives into how the physical infrastructure of cities supports the modern culture of individualism, customer turnaround and capitalism.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can give the podcast a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and on The Atlantic’s own website.