The Decline of Friendship in Modern Society

Friendship is facing a significant decline, with statistics revealing that the percentage of men with five or more close friends dropped from almost 70% in 1990 to just 40% by 2021. This decline is attributed to today's fast-paced lifestyle, which demands more effort and intentionality to maintain friendships. Research indicates that Americans now spend roughly three hours a week with friends, a stark reduction from previous years. Moreover, while women have not experienced as rapid a decrease in their friendships, they too are affected by this trend of isolation, highlighting a broader societal issue where many people feel connected yet remain physically distant.