Why We Should All Put Down Our Smartphones

The article introduces the idea that the word available today often refers to digital availability—how quickly someone replies to texts or emails.

This digital availability does not necessarily mean a person is physically or socially present.

For example, someone who responds instantly to messages may be less engaged in real-life interactions, such as conversations or noticing their surroundings.

The author describes a scenario on an airport bus where a man in a uniform, likely an airport employee, was wearing noise-canceling earbuds and watching a basketball game on his phone.

Despite being in a public space, his digital focus made him socially unavailable.

The article suggests that digital availability does not equate to real-world presence or openness to human connection.