The Voice Note Can't Fix Us

The least controversial take of 2025? We need to socialize more. It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican, a vegan or a cattle rancher, a Midwest Princess or a Brat - everyone seems to agree that our isolation "epidemic" demands urgent solving. And in the scramble to strengthen our bonds, many are lifting up the voice note as an easy way to promote deeper connection. But is more chatter really what we need? Whether you like it or not, the voice note is worming its way into American life. Of the 18- to 29-year-olds surveyed by YouGov and Vox in 2023, 43 percent reported using voice . . .