During the early days of COVID-19, many people were forced to live their lives on screens. Schools shifted to virtual learning, and businesses shuttered or moved online to avoid the risk of in-person contact spreading the virus. However, not everyone was willing or able to avoid face-to-face interactions, and some did not have the resources or skills to adapt to this technological shift. But for them, relying more on technology had become the ‘new normal’. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in October 2024, 48% of Americans said the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way they now use technology.