Nyr’e Jones, Staff Writer

Somewhere down the line, we as a society have forgotten the importance of empathy. It stopped being a habit or requirement. Now it’s an option. We disregard emotions, we laugh at vulnerability and we see suffering as weakness. We, as humans, are more connected than anything. Not in terms of us all being biologically related, but as people, we are always aware of one another. We see breakups, we see grief, we see loss, we see it all; yet despite this exposure, we lack community. So what happened to empathy? 

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another; to place yourself in one’s shoes and see their perspective. To slow one’s world down and release our selfish ways for a greater cause. So what happens when we neglect this? 

When empathy is neglected, people are more likely to suppress the way they feel rather than release it. The dismissive normalcy can make the emotions of another feel small or inconsequential, forcing solitude when community or conversation are truly wanted. Spaces for understanding fade away and judgment is left. Assumptions become the norm instead of asking thoughtful questions. Insensitivity prevails over empathy. 

Social media plays a significant role in this loss of empathy. We consume people’s worst moments almost daily. These range from breakdowns, relationship difficulties, familial issues or depression. The consumption of this has made it seem almost normal to ignore, or normal to comment negatively and make a joke of one’s pain. We forget that celebrities/influencers are human just as we are. Suffering has become so public it has done the opposite of making us softer but instead desensitized. 

Vulnerability is also a concept that has become a fear. To empathize with another person, it requires emotional openness and emotional expression of our own. It causes placement within another person’s feelings and for compassion to give comfort. But if you aren’t comfortable in your own emotions, it’s impossible to provide comfort for someone else. Vulnerability has now become a weakness, causing us to reject anything that is associated with it. This is ultimately the reason our society pulls back from empathy instead of embracing it and one another. 

In recent conversations about empathy, public figures have questioned its value. While on a podcast in 2025, Elon Musk stated, “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” Musk is claiming that empathy can be weaponized and harmful to our society rather than helpful. In listening to this, it’s realized how misunderstood empathy has become. Instead of recognizing the strengths of empathy and what it represents, human connection and social understanding, Musk’s delivery reinforced the idea that empathy is something to be controlled or used as a power dynamic. 

This moment illustrates a cultural shift where empathy is no longer seen as essential but debated. If compassion and understanding are labeled weaknesses by influential voices, it’s no wonder that empathy feels like a lost art.

If empathy continues to fade and is lost within others’ view of it, society risks becoming harsher and more divided. But if we choose to practice it intentionally and honestly—by listening more and judging less—it can be restored. 

Empathy is not a weakness but rather a skill that requires selflessness and discipline. And it may be the one thing that defines us as humans.