TL;DRSheila J. Simpson warns that digital convenience is replacing depth in both personal and professional communication. The fix isn’t less technology, it’s more intentionality about when to use it and when to show up in person.
Access to each other has never been easier in an era of a constantly connected world. Yet Sheila J. Simpson, Executive Director of FOCCUS Marriage Ministries, believes that this unprecedented connectivity has introduced a more complex challenge. “We have never been more connected as we are now, yet many people have never felt more unheard,” she says.
Simpson frames this paradox as one of the defining tensions of modern relationships. She says that the ability to communicate at any moment has not strengthened the connection in the way many expected. Instead, it has reshaped how people engage, often at the expense of depth, clarity, and emotional presence.
According to her, at the center of this shift is a fundamental question: Are people communicating more, or simply exchanging more information?
The 💜 of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Simpson argues that the distinction carries significant consequences in both personal and professional environments. She says, “Convenience has become the dominant driver of communication today. Emails replace conversations. Text messages replace phone calls. Reactions replace reflection.” Over time, she adds, these small substitutions accumulate into a broader erosion of meaningful interaction.
