Studies show that our ability to empathise has greatly diminished over the last 30 years. It’s due in part to the uptake of smartphones and social media – we’re all too busy thinking about ourselves. But while it might be part of the problem, could technology also be used to make us more empathetic?

When tragedies happen on the other side of the world, it's easy for people to switch off from the reality of the situation, since it's not happening to them. And this was evident in the initial response to the Syrian refugee crisis. But an ad by Amnesty International is bringing it to life.

Ever seen someone beg a bank teller to waive over-limit fees or extend their overdraft? Following a number of banks being called out on mistreating and mis-selling to vulnerable customers, UK institutions have been ordered to train their staff to empathise with those that are in a tight spot.

With just 7% of communication being attributed to spoken words, and the remainder down to body language and tone of voice, it’s easy to see why communicating online has been described as cold and impersonal. Emoticons, emoji and stickers are helping make digital communication a bit more human.