Derek Thompson from The Atlantic discusses the decline in face-to-face socializing in America due to smartphones, women turning to pets for companionship, challenges of raising kids in the digital age, and the fraternizing role of protests in creating temporary sense of community.
Smartphones have led to a decline in teenagers' face-to-face socializing, contributing to rising anxiety and depression.
Youth sports participation decline reflects reduced face-to-face interactions, impacting social development in children.
Deep dives
The Impact of Smartphones on Declining Socializing
Smartphones have led to a 40-50% decrease in teenagers hanging out in person compared to 20 years ago. This shift has affected all demographics, showing a universal decline in face-to-face interactions. While smartphones provide a quasi-social experience, they have replaced traditional socializing time, contributing to rising teen anxiety and depression.
Youth Sports and Social Decline
Participation in team sports among children aged 6-12 has decreased by 41-37% from 2011 to 2017. Youth sports play a crucial role in teaching healthy competition and collaboration, essential for social development. The decline in youth sports participation reflects a broader trend of reduced face-to-face social interactions across various age groups and activities.
Redefining Socializing: Pets vs. Humans
American adults now spend more time actively engaging with their pets than socializing face-to-face with others. The increase in pet ownership and time spent with pets highlights a larger trend of reduced personal interactions and social engagements. While pets offer companionship, the shift towards spending more time with animals than with people raises questions about the impact on human social connections and community building.
Derek Thompson of The Atlantic joins Victoria to answer the question: Why did Americans stop hanging out? The two discuss the steep decline in face-to-face socializing, the rise of loneliness, and the fraternizing role of protests.