"Reach out," the old jingled implored. "Reach out and touch someone." That was the 1980s, and the metaphor of physical touch helped humanize the still-nascent technology of long-distance phone calls.

Have you ever been chatting online and gotten all sad and distant and wish your chat buddy could hug you? Or wanted to feel someone’s heart race with rage via the internet? Well, intrepid science ...

As it became clear that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus would limit human interaction, local illustrator and watercolor artist Amy Wike turned to art to process her feelings. “Before enough time ...

Facebook reactions launched as a way to quickly respond when a like just didn’t suffice — and now the platform’s latest reaction is a way to send a virtual hug during social distancing. On Friday, ...

Russell Stover's campaign on TikTok is an extension of a digital effort that urged people to send each other "virtual hugs" as the coronavirus pandemic dissuades physical contact. By enlisting an ...

The isolation of quarantine has shone a blistering light on the importance of physical connections. Though sexual experiences have dominated the conversation, especially with separated couples seeking ...