Restoring Social Connection in America: The Promise and Peril of Technology, Media, and Digital Life

Deficits of trust, empathy, and a sense of common purpose are defining characteristics of the current moment in America. Our social fabric is threadbare as deepening polarization spills into many aspects of community life. The systems and technologies that shape how people communicate with each other and consume information are redefining what connection looks like in America. Algorithmic feeds, AI-generated content, and fragmented digital media environments can foment division and deepen social isolation, but the same underlying tech and infrastructure can create opportunities to broker dialogue, trust, and positive human…