How to Stop Being Socially Awkward (According to Science) with Behavioral Scientist Vanessa Van Edwards

We don't call anybody up and ask for help. You don't go to your neighbor, you don't, you know, borrow some sugar anymore. We're having social struggles, social awkwardness more than we used to because there aren't the natural interactions that are forcing us to learn them. Yes, I think we're in the most critical time that if we don't learn it on purpose, we never will. That's a scary thought.

It's terrifying. We are obsessed with finding the right words, saying just the right thing so we can get the job. Get the girl, make a good impression. Sometimes we labor over our texts. Some of us can even stress for days worried if we said the right thing or not.

And now with AI, we're all learning to find just the perfect words exactly when we need them. But there's a problem. Making human connections takes more than words. It also includes things like Body language, nonverbal communication.

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