Americans of all ages are spending less time socializing

Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios

Americans are spending less time hanging out than they were 20 years ago, and the trend cuts across every generation, Axios' Erica Pandey writes from new American Time Use Survey data.

Why it matters: It's a fundamental shift in the way we live our lives that has implications for everything from what we believe to how long we live.

By the numbers: Average time spent socializing per day has fallen from 45 to 35 minutes over the last 20 years.

The decline is steepest among young people: 15- to 24-year-olds went from spending an hour a day hanging out with others to 35 minutes.

Between the lines: Sociologists and psychologists point to several trends driving this phenomenon, which Substack writer Derek Thompson dubbed "The Anti-Social Century" in the Atlantic last year.

We're all on our smartphones, often interacting through screens instead of face to face, even though social media is no substitute for spending time together in person. Teens, in particular, spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, according to Gallup.

The shift to remote work, and life, during the pandemic has persisted, keeping more of us homebound.

Longer-term trends are reshaping daily life in ways that make isolation easier. Homes are bigger and more comfortable, with larger TVs. Virtually every restaurant is on a food delivery app, making it easier than ever to stay in.

What to watch: Also contributing to the trend is the decline of gathering spaces, Axios' Avery Lotz writes.

A 2025 report from CU Boulder researchers uncovered widespread closures of all kinds of hangout spots, from libraries to coffee shops to museums, in the last decade or so.

Churches are also shuttering at unprecedented rates, Axios' Russell Contreras reports.