These days, as I've had to take public transportation due to a new job, I've noticed many things. Among them, how children and teenagers don't exchange a single word for minutes, even when sitting next to each other, while their thumbs never stop moving across their phone screens.

This scene, which doesn't even surprise me anymore, reflects an increasingly common defeat in our society. We're raising a generation that's brilliant with technology but emotionally disconnected. Young people capable of programming complex applications but who freeze at the need to maintain a face-to-face conversation or interpret their peers' non-verbal cues.

The problem goes far beyond teenagers glued to their screens. In offices, executives mistake emotional coldness for professionalism. They prefer sending an email to a team sitting just feet away rather than standing up and having a direct conversation. Digital communication has become a shield that protects us from the uncomfortable but necessary exercise of facing emotions, both our own and others'.

The pandemic only made things worse. Video calls, which saved us from total isolation, also accustomed us to a reduced version of human interaction. A version where we can't perceive complete body language, where eyes never truly meet, and where awkward silence is resolved with "I think your image froze."

The effects of this emotional illiteracy are evident in the workplace. Young professionals arrive at their first jobs with impressive resumes but without knowing how to handle face-to-face conflict, how to give constructive feedback, or how to build meaningful professional relationships beyond LinkedIn. Companies are full of technical experts who can't work in teams, leaders who can't motivate their employees, and employees who don't know how to express their needs or concerns.

What can we do about it? To start, we need to recognize that emotional intelligence is as important as technical ability. Schools should dedicate as much time teaching children to manage their emotions and relate to others as they do to mathematics or programming. Companies need to create safe spaces where employees can practice and develop their interpersonal skills.

It's also essential to recover moments of real connection. Establish technology-free zones and times at home and work. Encourage face-to-face conversations. Teach our children (and remind ourselves) that an emoji can never replace a sincere smile, that a "like" is no substitute for a hug, and that no social network can match the richness of a real conversation.

True progress isn't about having better technology, but knowing when to turn it off to connect with those around us. Because in the end, success in life doesn't depend only on what we know how to do, but on how we relate to others. And that's a skill no artificial intelligence will ever replace.