Violent video games have been a small part of the national conversation about gun violence in recent weeks. The big question: Does violence in games make people more violent in the real world?
The answer is unclear, but one thing is obvious: Violence sells games. The most popular video game franchise is Call of Duty, a war game where killing is the goal.
With the Pentagon now officially recognizing cyberspace as a domain of warfare, U.S. military commanders are emphasizing their readiness to defend the nation against cyberthreats from abroad. What they do not say is that they are equally prepared to launch their own cyberattacks against U.S. adversaries.
While social media and smartphones can make our lives more convenient, they can also make create problems for our personal relationships. Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell says he sees often couples whose problems stem from their attachment to technology. But others say technology has brought them closer together.
The Jordans use an iPad to talk to their daughter, Kelly, who's at school in Chicago.
Credit Marie McGrory for NPR
David and Sue Jordan talk to their son, David, 13. Making sure their children can still hold a conversation with adults and maintain eye contact is highly valued.
Credit Marie McGrory for NPR
Brian Jordan checks his iPhone while Kevin and their father watch television.
Weekend Edition Sunday is taking a look at how technology affects personal relationships. Along with romantic and workplace connections, family dynamics are shifting.
The Jordans are a classic example of a family trying to figure out how to use technology without feeling disconnected from one another. Sue and David have five kids: two off at college and three still at home.
For Valentine's Day, maybe you'll post a photo of your loved one on Facebook, tweet out a love poem or text-message your secret crush. But as we make those virtual connections, are we missing something?
Weekend Edition Sunday is exploring a few of the places in our lives where technology can actually drive us apart and make real intimacy tough: in our romantic relationships, with our kids, even in the workplace.
