What’s the biggest factor behind why Americans of all ages are spending less time socializing in-person?

Rise of remote life (21%) – "It seems this 'trend' has flourished since COVID. All ages seem reluctant to engage in in-person activities. Trust in others has lessened. It is sad."

• "The rise of remote work/food/socialization has made it too easy for people to just not put in much/any effort into things, with hanging out with others being one of the major areas that people let fall by the wayside."

Smartphones/social media (55%) – "Unfortunately, everywhere you look, you see faces staring at screens. The images on the screens will make you laugh, cry, and fall into belief systems you may not buy into if coming from a real life friend. Social media shows a specifically curated narrative, and is crafted to pull you into it's world for hours without coming up for air."

• "All these factors contribute, obviously, but I chose social media because we had TV and radio and records in the 70s, 80s, 90s; people still socialized. And we don't go over to each others' homes nearly as much, so even though place options have narrowed with the decline of malls, community centers, and, like, public swimming pools, that's not completely it either. I would maybe also argue that hosting is becoming less and less taught, so people have to build that skill as they go, whereas before it was a learned and taught and recognized art."

"Social media and other electronic communications make it safer to engage in socializing. In person meetings taught men and women how to interact and face rejection which is important for maturity. Distance in communication causes negative impact on family life. It is too easy to be distant. True happiness and a vibrant society need one on one communication."

• "People are so addicted to their phones that even if you see them gathered together they are often scrolling, heads down, and not talking to each other. I would also add another factor as to why people are meeting less in restaurants and coffee shops - the cost of dining out has become prohibitive for some."

"This is a no brainer!! Go anywhere, ANYWHERE, and you will see most people either buried in their phone or frequently checking their phone. About the only time this isn't the rule is during church services. The need for immediate entertainment for what I want to view overrides ANY attempt at conversation, comity, or social interaction. Smart phones, social media, the internet are all tools available to us. Like a hammer is a tool that can help create beautiful things or destroy them. It is not the tools' fault for what it is, it is how we use it."

• "All of these societal changes can be tracked back to the birth of the smartphone. Americans grow more dependent upon technology to facilitate connections every day. The other things that were referred to as causes - the closure of "third places" and the remote work - are actually symptoms of technology controlling our lives."

Decline of “third places” (10%) – "Decline of third places and the cost of going out. Yes, it’s becoming a trend, or at least a micro one, to invite friends on errands and such to avoid having to make hanging out its own thing; but wow, talk about struggling to find what to do when options are limited or costly. And oddly enough, everyone feels the need to be DOING something; just chatting isn’t a desirable option for some people."

Other (14%) – "I would vote "All of the above." It is a trend driven by multiple cumulative effects. It could be as simple as the fact that modern life is complicated, stressful and exhausting. For example, my preferred method to recharge is to quietly read a book."

• "I think that the political division in our country is a leading factor too. My in-laws have radically different views that the rest of us and as a result, none of us hang out with them like we used to. They come to my nephews sports events where we can avoid talk of politics. I find myself also living more in a bubble and surrounding myself with people with like views, which I used not to do but feel it is important now for my mental health."