Social Interaction: The Digital Erasure of Presence?

Social Interaction: The Digital Erasure of Presence?

Author: Gareth King November 29, 2025 Duration: 51:25

With its constant presence and insatiable demand for attention, has the internet invaded our offline spaces, diminishing our ability to be truly present, and eroding the quality of our in-person experiences?

To help us understand the costs of digital distraction, we’re joined by Emily Toner, a clinical psychologist and international expert in the fields of mindfulness, eco-psychology and mental health.

⁠https://www.emilytoner.com⁠

⁠https://pod.link/1828836798⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/emilytoner_⁠

⁠https://www.facebook.com/emilytonerconsulting/⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-toner-27413336/

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Emily joins us to explore the profound effects of the Internet on social interaction and relationships, the importance of social connection for mental and physical health, and the changing definitions of social interaction in the digital age.

We also look at the concept of ‘phubbing’, the state of 'doingness' versus 'beingness', the intersection of mental health, technology, and community connections, and the rising anxiety and depression in a tech-driven world.

00:00 The Impact of the Internet on Social Interaction

05:06 The Importance of Social Connection

09:55 Changing Definitions of Social Interaction

14:51 The Distraction of Technology in Social Settings

20:03 Phubbing: The New Social Norm

24:48 The State of Doingness vs. Beingness

28:09 The Importance of Community Connections

35:37 The Impact of Digital Interactions on Relationships

39:22 AI and the Future of Connection

46:25 Practical Strategies for Healthy Social Interactions


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Podcast Episodes
Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic need for shelter into a frantic and dehumanising battle with technology?In this episode we’re joined…
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The internet often turns self-improvement into a spectator sport, replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than build habits. By looking to algorithms for every answer, have we not o…
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Duration: 32:55
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around, delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable break from the old ways. But did the revolution simply bring an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the il…
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Duration: 46:50
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Duration: 47:15
The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we’d ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other?Helpi…
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Duration: 41:13
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever; bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, leading to a rise in unq…
Common Ground: From Dialogue to Digital Battlefield? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningf…
Brand Trust: The Era of Algorithmic Enshittification? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:24
The internet was supposed to empower brands to build relationships based on authenticity and shared values. But for so many of us, does it now just feel like surveillance capitalism, exploiting and manipulating our atten…
Reputation Management: A New World of Digital Life Sentences? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:07
By creating an environment of radically-decentralised authority, has the internet shattered a slow, controlled process, by turning it into a fast, volatile, and potentially permanent crisis cycle?Joining us is Stuart Tho…
Trust in Information: The End of Believing Our Own Eyes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
The internet promised a more informed society where anyone could share knowledge freely. However, many people feel it’s led to a crisis of trust where expertise is constantly challenged, and huge numbers of us struggle t…