In 2017, the former US Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic. It’s been compared to a crisis on the scale of opioids or obesity. Some studies equate the health effects of loneliness with that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Julie Schechter is helping to fight the loneliness epidemic. She is the CEO and co-founder of  Present and Small Packages, two companies focused on building stronger relationships and connections in a digital world. She provides insight on the modern paradox of technology: how something meant to bring us closer together has led to a lonelier population. Julie explains:

• How our everyday lives have lost the traditional structures that made us feel connected
• Why our relationships are typically dictated by proximity
• How the pandemic forced “hustle culture” to come to a halt and the lasting impact of pandemic loneliness
• Why technology has made us all feel lonely
• How losing your oldest friendships has the health impact equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day
• What kinds of technology can work to make us feel closer
• Why the simple act of noticing something in someone is so powerful