Cell phones are shaping the way we connect—but are they negatively effecting the depth of our closest relationships? Professor Laura Watkins, Instructor of Communication at Northwestern, joins to talk about how our phone habits influence everything from mealtime conversations, emotional quality of our relationships, and how we parent. Her recent study found that 75% of people believe that phones at the table make conversations less meaningful, ultimately weakening our relationships. Hear as she shares practical steps anyone can take to connect and communicate well in a world full of digital distractions. Laura Watkins also writes about the effects of cell phone use in the classroom in her article, “The Death of Silence in the Classroom: How Demanding a No-Screen Classroom Creates Space for Interaction (and Learning!).” Read her article here.🎧 Subscribe and leave a rating wherever you listen. 💬 Know an alum, faculty member, staff, or student of UNW doing amazing things out in the world? Let us know at [email protected].

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