i partially agree with you. but most social media is carefully designed to make you keep interacting with it. because of phones, you can bring a nearly endless stream of distractions everywhere you go. the newspaper you can read a maxim of once.

it was impossible to get more than a “Mmh” out of my grandfather, while he was reading his newspaper. so i know what you mean. but when he was done with it, he was done with it. after his 0.5 h per day of newspaper, he was an amazing conversationalist and always had time for whoever wanted something. so i would say there is a difference.

i guess i am getting old. but i really think it is sad, when a group goes to the restaurant/coffee/bar and everyone is staring at their individual screen