Technology Trivia Question

[officerripley]

Just for fun (i.e., I've got no prize to give out for the first correct answer ), what technological invention is being talked about in this quote in the New York Times?

"...the general use of the [answer], instead of promoting civility and courtesy, is the means of the fast dying out of what little we have left."

Extra credit (yeah, right, lol) for the year.

 

[hollydolly]

1907 Telephone

....

 

[officerripley]

Well, done, Holly! (I tried googling to find out who wrote the article, but the Times has got a lot of their stuff behind a paywall.)

Oh, and I promised extra credit, didn't I? Here it is:

 

[hollydolly]

Well, done, Holly! (I tried googling to find out who wrote the article, but the Times has got a lot of their stuff behind a paywall.)

Oh, and I promised extra credit, didn't I? Here it is:

is that where you got the question from ?

 

[officerripley]

I got the quote out of a book I'm reading right now, The Lonely Century: How to Restore Human Connection in a World That's Pulling Apart by Noreena Hertz; pretty good.

 

[hollydolly]

I got the quote out of a book I'm reading right now, The Lonely Century: How to Restore Human Connection in a World That's Pulling Apart by Noreena Hertz; pretty good.

oh, I was just confused by the reference to the Times...