Screens Between Us
The small screens in our hands are shaping how we shop, work, connect, play, and even pray. They connect us across continents in seconds yet can leave us feeling worlds apart from those beside us. In this issue of THINK, we explore the promise and the price of living in an attention economy — an age where every moment of focus has value, and every view, whether visual or intellectual, can be bought and sold.
Collectively, the articles reveal the profound ways in which mobile devices and social media are reshaping consumption, labour, spirituality, artistic expression, wellbeing, parenting, and empowerment. While the contributors illuminate new possibilities, they also expose the hidden costs that demand mindful and deliberate engagement. The question is no longer whether we should engage with our devices, but how — so that what we gain in return is truly worth what we give away. We hope you agree.
In this issue:
- What Young Minds Need in a Screen-Filled World
Child psychologist Dr Cheung Hoi Shan shares insights on how excessive screen use is reshaping children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, and stresses the need for balanced parenting, clear boundaries, offline play, and supportive policies to help children build resilience and thrive in the digital age.
- Technologies of the Soul: Rethinking the Sacred in a HyperConnected World
THINK’s chief editor interviewed filmmaker Prof Ian McGonigle, who explored the ways digital technologies — from virtual rituals to AI chatbots — have reshaped spiritual life. Their discussion delves into how online platforms democratise and extend religious practice, raising profound questions about authority, community, and the meaning of the sacred in a hyperconnected world.
- From Platform to Public Square: Rethinking Digital Engagement
Ellis Ng, a journalist and volunteer community advocate, sheds light on social media’s dual role: once empowering civic movements and marginalised voices, but now also driving misinformation and polarisation — prompting her to call for authentic, bridge-building digital communities grounded in dialogue and inclusion.
… and many more.
