I would say that we communicate with other humans at least as much today as in the past. We just are spending more and more time using "high-tech" communication

I would say that we communicate with other humans at least as much today as in the past. We just are spending more and more time using "high-tech" communication mediums that filter a lot of the nuance and nearly all of the non-verbal cues from conversation. Arguably, the need to pick up on emotions through text- or audio-only communication might make empathy more important.