We live in a digitally connected world, where many of us are regularly “on.” According to Annie Kjellstrom:

“Until recently, we connected with one another in person. We planned activities around what we liked to do together, not the best status update. We made photo albums (real ones) as a tribute to good times and we only shared important updates about our lives with people who were a part of them. Being connected meant sharing ourselves with those closest to us — without a need to document, broadcast, or archive relationships.”

“Today, being ‘connected’ is a much more complicated concept. In some cases, digital connections are even required to validate offline relationships — after all, you’re not really dating unless it’s ‘Facebook official.’”

Recently, Zarb School of Business Distinguished Professor Joel Evans of Hofstra University did an extended radio interview with Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D. on living in a connected world and the growing phenomenon of always being “on.” Connectivity involves using digital devices to interact with the outside world, including smartphones, smart TVs, wearable devices, GPS, computers, tablets, home security systems, and more. This interview is divided into three segments for YouTube. Click here to see Segment 1.

Segment 2 highlights these topics:

• Smartphone’s impact on quality of work – distractions
• Myth of multitasking
• Challenges of teaching in a smartphone-connected world
• Societal acceptance of always being on – no code of conduct and few limits on use
• Explosion of connected devices and how they can be used (“smart” devices)
• 13 billion connected devices for people as of 2020
• Currently, 3.6 connected devices per person
• Growth of social media platforms
• [U.S.] Lifetime, more than 5 full years per person spent on social media – more than time on eating or personal interactions
• Social media by gender