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Teens are seeing a lot less of one another.
The share of high school secniors who gathered with friends in person"almost every day" dropped from 44% in 2010 to 32% in 2022. Social outings for the typical eighth grader dwindled from 2 1/2 a week in 2000 to 1 1/2 in 2021.
Adolescents are spending less time gathering in shopping malls, movie theaters, and rec rooms, and more time connecting on Instagram, TikTok, and Discord.
Some researchers see the retreat from social gatherings as key to explaining the wave of adolescent ennui that is sweeping the nation.
"Teens are spending a lot more time communicating with each other electronically and a lot less time hanging out with each other face to face," said Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University.
Loneliness is on the rise. It is actually having catastrophic effects on society. As we all know, awareness is the first step. For more information check out The Hill.