Americans' Social Activity Has Steeply Declined in the Past 30 Years

Americans' participation in traditional social activities has declined sharply over the past 30 years, with double-digit drops in activities like attending classes, entertaining at home, attending church, and playing cards—falling from 63% to 38% of Americans having five or more close friends between 1990 and 2021. Meanwhile, digital activities like internet use and video gaming have surged, suggesting a significant shift toward solitary and online engagement rather than in-person social interaction.