Discussion: The importance of small talk in today's world

Your exam question asks you to discuss the importance of small talk in today’s world. As your starting point you must use the article “I’ve lost my conversational mojo – can I relearn the art of small talk?” by Rhik Samadder and the video “Small talk can make you happier: here’s how to master it”.

One of the most important aspects of small talk is that it offers people a sense of belonging. The article mentions at one point that “We live in a frictionless world of reduced human interaction, and constant, high-grade stimulation through our phones. I never thought I’d miss meaningless chit-chat, but I do” (ll. 31-33). While it might seem that people now have many friends online, these cannot replace in-perso...