In Super Sad True Love Story, social media interactions are the top priority of everyone in the world. The problem is so huge, people actually are willing to commit suicide when the networks shut down and apparati can no longer be used. It is an age where the world is completely dependent on social interaction through technology, and one that appears quite similar to our own. One effect of this social media practice seen in both our society and the novel’s is a waning in empathy. In an opinion article titled “Stop Googling. Let’s talk.” printed in the New York Times, author Sherry Turkle explains how empathy between college students has decreased 40% since the technological age, the majority of the decrease occurring since 2000, and how even five days without using technology, such as at summer camp, can show an increase in human connection and meaningful conversation.

Turkle’s ideas are an intriguing commentary on our world and can be added to Shteyngart’s arguments in his novel. First, characters don’t have much empathy for one another. Jenny doesn’t acknowledge Eunice’s heartfelt comments about friendship (176) and Eunice’s first encounter with David leaves her saying they aren’t all in together for David’s cause (146). In contrast to this, while following Turkle’s arguments, Eunice, cut off from technology after the Rupture, sends messages that cannot be received by anyone. In one message to Jenny, she says, “White people don’t really care about old people, except for David who tried to help everyone. And then they shot him like a dog” (265). Eunice changes her earlier seemingly apathetic comments about David to empathetic ones. After spending time thinking about the atrocities and having no connection to technology to distract her, Eunice is finally able to connect to David’s strive to help people and be angry with his death.