An article summarized by Axios:

Americans are spending significantly less time socializing in person than they did two decades ago, according to new American Time Use Survey data. The average time spent hanging out with others has dropped from 45 minutes a day to just 35 minutes, with the sharpest decline among young people ages 15 to 24, whose daily social time has fallen from about an hour to only 35 minutes. Experts say this reflects a major shift in how Americans connect and spend their free time.

Researchers point to several factors driving the decline. Smartphones and social media have replaced much of the face-to-face interaction people once had, with teens now spending nearly five hours a day on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The rise of remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic has also kept more people at home, while conveniences like food delivery services, larger homes, and home entertainment make it easier to stay in rather than go out and socialize.

The trend has broader implications beyond friendships. Experts warn that spending less time together in person can affect mental health, community engagement, and even longevity. The closure of traditional gathering places, including coffee shops, libraries, museums, and churches, has further reduced opportunities for people to connect, contributing to what some researchers have described as an increasingly "anti-social" era in American life.

For the article: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/05/americans-socializing-decline