How Social Are We?

Over the past century, social interactions have changed dramatically. In 1930, global life expectancy was 25.75 years; by 2024, it increased to 73.33, which reshaped how people spend time together. Are we still the same social animals? Nope!

According to a Medium article by Vikram Reddy, an entrepreneur with an interest in building communities, in 1930, people spent 22.72 % of their time with family, whereas by 2024, that figure had dropped significantly to just 4.52 %.

Pic: Canva

In 1930, 22.47 % of our days was at school, but by 2024, this had declined sharply to just 3.33 %.

 

Pic: Pixabay

Outings/occasions with friends dropped a fair bit too from 18.67 % in 1930 to 13.86 % in 2024, reflecting a shift in social habits over the decades. Dost dost na raha or what?

Pic: Kind courtesy A frame in motion/Pexels

Time spent with neighbours declined amazingly from 11.45 % in 1924 to just 1.28 % in 2024. What happened to barbecues, block parties and picnics? 

Pic: Kind courtesy Courtesy Zion National Park, Photographer Carl E. Jepson, Museum Catalog Number ZION 9742/Wikimedia Commons

Religious places received less of our time, decreasing from 10.26 % in 1930 to just 2.12 % in 2024. Perhaps not in India

Pic: Kind courtesy रामेश्वर गौड़/Wikimedia Commons

Whiling away time at bars and restaurants decreased from 7.97 % in 1930 to 4.91 % in 2024.

Pic: Paul McErlane/Reuters

Hours in college dropped from 3.63 % in 1930 to just 0.74 % in 2024.

Pic: Kind courtesy Kiran Pokuri Photography/Pexels

What about killing time with coworkers? Surprise, surprise. It rose significantly from 2.83 % in 1930 to 8.48 % in 2024.

Pic: Canva

Now listen to this... Time spent online surged from 0.00 % in 1930 to an astounding 60.76 % in 2024. Of course, there was no Internet way back in 1930. But now we are mainly Internet creatures.

Pic: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Go to rediff.com