Read the full Spinoff story about the importance of regular face-to-face interaction.
At a gathering of global religious, political and cultural experts in Singapore this week, one action has been cited over and over as a key to social harmony.
At the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICSS), more than 1,000 delegates from around the world have listened to former politicians, academics and digital entrepreneurs speak about the increasing polarisation around the world and what it will take for societies to flourish in a new reality. And the message that keeps coming back around, whether in talks about combatting online extremism, increasing social cohesion or embracing multiculturalism, is almost laughably simple: talk to your neighbours.