14/01/2025
A Masterful Article – Highly Recommend!
Atlantic writer, Derek Thomson delves into the profound shift in American social dynamics, highlighting how the rise of smartphones & social media has made it easier for us to connect virtually, but often at the expense of face-to-face interactions.
Many of us now spend more time on screens and less time engaging in person – leading to increased isolation, reduced happiness, and a decline in our mental/emotional health & well-being.
Here are the top takeaways:
1. Decline in Socializing: The share of US adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. 2. Increase in Solo Dining: Solo dining has increased by 29% in just the past two years, with people feeling they need more "me time."
3. Drastic Decline in Community Involvement: From 1985 to 1994, active involvement in community organizations fell by nearly half, affecting nearly every social activity and demographic group.
4. Increased Homebound Time: In 2022, adults spent an additional 99 minutes at home daily compared to 2003, highlighting a significant shift towards "remote life" where more activities are conducted within the confines of the home.
Why This Matters: This shift towards increased isolation is a significant problem because social interaction is essential for human well-being. Too many of us aren't getting the connection we need in order to thrive. Because the place all of us spend the most time at is work, I feel it's now incumbent upon workplace leaders to proactively create opportunities for their people to interact, collaborate, and connect.
As it turns out, the number one driver of employee (human) well-being is "belonging." And, so by fostering a greater sense of community and belonging at work, we can not only help counteract the broader societal trends of isolation technology has wrought, we can also ensure our people are flourishing in their roles.
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