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?

Have you ever seen a dog with the face of a girl? Or your best mate with the face of their mum? Darling of iPhone camera rolls, Facebook feeds and Buzzfeed listicles alike, face swapping has become a ritual of friendship in a digital age. But what explains the lasting appeal of weirdness on the web?

Would you prefer your kids to be able to read books or people? Studies suggest that more parents would favour the latter. Committee for Children is a non-profit that distributes ‘social-emotional learning materials’ and it’s launching an e-book to help people understand the value of this skill set.

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.