America’s era of solitude

They say not all who wander are lost, but those who never leave the house always know where a bathroom is – a stance a growing number of Americans share. The US is spending more time at home than ever before, per new data from across the country.

A few examples:

• Americans’ time spent socializing in person decreased by 20% from 2003 to 2023, including a 35% drop among adults under 25, according to the most recent American Time Use Survey.
• Over the same period, the share of US adults having drinks or dinner with a friend declined by 30%. And the National Restaurant Association found 74% of 2023 restaurant traffic came from takeout and delivery.
• When it comes to children, the average American under 18 spends ~30% of their waking hours looking at screens (4.6 hours on weekdays and 6.5 hours on weekends), per the Digital Parenthood Initiative.
• Overall, Americans' time at home increased by 1.65 hours/day from 2003 to 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found.

Driving the trend…Experts attribute a large share of the increase to more Americans working from home, a trend present before the pandemic but further exacerbated by Covid. But data also shows other activities like shopping, eating/drinking, and religion have gradually shifted into the home over the past 20 years, as technological advancements and rising prices have made going out a less attractive option.

Zoom out: While loneliness isn’t necessarily the same as being alone, Americans’ time spent at home has been rising in parallel with social isolation and loneliness. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness epidemic in May 2023, citing data that shows ~50% of Americans have experienced loneliness in recent years.

📊 Flash poll (long-form): In your opinion, what’s the main reason why Americans are spending more time alone today than ever before? The most thoughtful answers will be featured in Monday’s newsletter.

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