Digital Disconnect: Vanity Fair Podcast Explores Technology's Impact on Human Connection

In a recent episode of Vanity Fair's "Decir Las Cosas" podcast, hosts Alberto Moreno and Jesús Terrés engaged in a thought-provoking discussion regarding the potential dehumanizing effects of modern technology. Recorded at the Hotel Colón Gran Meliá in Seville, the conversation centered on how increasing reliance on digital conveniences, such as rejecting phone calls or opting for e-books over social gatherings, might be eroding genuine human interaction. Moreno initiated the discussion by stating, "I come to denounce publicly in this podcast that we are dehumanizing ourselves." He elaborated on the paradox of progress, noting, "Progress makes us connected to the things we like the most. I mean, I've never done more things I like in my life." He cited examples like easily accessing e-books through municipal library apps and online gaming for his son. Terrés interjected, "You can make a video call with your mother." Moreno acknowledged this, but emphasized his preference for in-person interactions over digital ones for certain contexts. He humorously remarked on avoiding phone calls, saying, "Someone calls me on the phone and I say, 'it's my landlady.' How uninteresting to pick up right now." He concluded by expressing a desire to cultivate personal interests over immediate digital demands, suggesting, "I feel like continuing to cultivate this hobby I have, which I might monetize someday. Or I'm reading, and it bothers me to even answer a WhatsApp, imagine calling." The hosts explored the tension between technological convenience and the desire for more authentic, physical connection.