Rejoice, Introverts: This Is Your Age

Philip Bump has a happy message for his fellow introverts in the Atlantic: Technology has made this a "Golden Age" for you. Sure, email, texts, social networks, etc., might seemingly make it impossible to disengage, but it actually "has become easier than ever to carve out time for oneself while meeting the needs of our extroverted friends," writes Bump. "We live in a time in which introverts can regularly mask their introversion if they so desire."

Take email, for instance. People complain about its "perpetual accessibility," but think of it another way: "It allows you to respond when you're ready to do so," writes Bump. "In fact, sometimes not responding to email in a timely fashion can give the impression that you're already busy doing other things. Which helps create the space that introverts need." And Facebook posts? So much easier than genuine communication, which can be exhausting for introverts. Click to read Bump's full column, in which he lays out his four ways that technology helps those who like to keep to themselves. (More introverts stories.)