I am always curious what people are reading/watching on their devices when I see them like this.
I often see folks decry these scenes and talk about technology “ruining” interpersonal relationships. Their arguments are extrovert-centered. As a textbook introvert living in a densely populated area, I do not have the mental energy necessary to interact with every person I encounter, even if they all wanted me to. (They don’t.) It doesn’t bother me that I don’t know the intimate workings of every household on the floor of the apartment building where I live. It is a relief to not be expected to hold an animated conversation with every stranger I sit or stand next to on public transportation. Being able to don headphones and listen to music that feeds my soul while walking down the street is a blessing. All of these things make the interpersonal interactions I choose to engage in (many of them online, and often while I walk or ride) all the more meaningful and precious to me.