Fascinating question. I think unfortunately this is the way of things, don't you? People are afraid to be vulnerable offline; they always have. The anonymity of online connection makes people's walls come down and allows them to be vulnerable without fear of judgment. I actually think that is incredibly powerful and something humans have never had access to before.
Also, professional psychiatric help (which often simply involves this active listening) is incredibly expensive. Everyone deserves access to that help.
But, YES, I think we do need to make a concerted effort to connect with family, friends, and neighbors in person. The internet can facilitate these things and facilitate connections with people we previously never had access to. Any product that facilitates human interaction offline, to me, is a gift.
Also, professional psychiatric help (which often simply involves this active listening) is incredibly expensive. Everyone deserves access to that help.
But, YES, I think we do need to make a concerted effort to connect with family, friends, and neighbors in person. The internet can facilitate these things and facilitate connections with people we previously never had access to. Any product that facilitates human interaction offline, to me, is a gift.