> From the back row, I watched my friends scroll their social media feeds with ferocious intensity.

Meh, groups taking short rides in long SUVs like he talks about here, that's a good time to catch up on social media before everyone's face to face again.

Sustaining group conversations in a long multi-row SUV is painful. Get your social media stuff done briefly, then when you get out of the car, go back to interacting in person. This is fine.