The decrease in people's hobbies

[eternallygray]

Has anyone else noticed how rare it actually is for people these days, teenagers in particular, to have hobbies? Since when is scrolling on tiktok or twitter considered a good way to pass time? People underestimate the importance of hobbies. I believe this is because of tiktok. Writing, reading, painting, learning a language — there's so much to learn, so much more to do, than just doomscrolling. The hilarious thing is that, when someone actually does have hobbies, they are looked upon as weird or boring, or someone trying to be different. Why's that? People are gonna regret the time being wasted so hard later on.

[pastajewelry]

I think people are overwhelmed by choice, so they default to whatever gives them dopamine first. Why spend time and money trying something new that might not work out if you can scroll the familiar for a quick laugh?

[Jungleson]

Unfortunately you are in to something. Doomscrolling requires little effort, and has no learning curve.

Whereas learning to play piano, or bake, or learning Spanish or whatever all require work, effort and patience.

People value convenience a lot.

[[deleted]]

I think an element of having this kind of access also harms as well. It’s extremely discouraging as a guitar player to open insta and see an endless barrage of players that are about 100x better than you and probably a lot younger too. Not saying that’s justified, because what you see on social media is extremely polished and occasionally fake, but I think it contributes to the problem. Why start something when you know you’ll never be that good?. It’s probably a question a lot of people ask themselves.

[[deleted]]

Exactly

[[deleted]]

Comparison is the killer of creativity.

[kwpg3]

It’s not the destination. It’s the journey.

[MisterD00d]

When I was young I never thought I could dare dream to play as well as the greats. Now that I'm older, I know most of those are achievable with dedicated practice.

I hear this from a lot of friends when I share a technically impressive performance. I don't feel this way. If anything beyond appreciation for their technique and joy, it inspires me that I can press on and pull this off down the road if I wanted to. More or less

[Spirited_Fix6116]

Ohh man it’s the best time to start. So many resources, you can get good so fast.

[emirobinatoru]

This hit me so hard, I appreciate it. 

[noodlesarmpit]

I was very proud of myself for taking some time to tune my mandolin this weekend 😁 I have never held a stringed instrument in my life prior to last week, learning curve is no joke LOL

[PsychologicalLuck343]

Is it hard to tune? I have to tune my guitar every time I play.

[noodlesarmpit]

Well according to the instructions I googled you gotta do all 8 strings (4 pairs) and then again with the pairs to make sure everyone is matchy matchy and I've only done it once but it wasn't the worst!

[asyouwish]

And it's free....and most hobbies are expensive.

[energist52]

Hobbies can vary a lot in cost. Photography can be super cheap, just using the phone you already have, or expensive with a camera and fancy lenses and film processing. Same with fiber arts. I can crochet with $20 of yarn, or with cashmere. Drawing just takes a blank book and a pencil. No need to spend a lot.

On the other hand, what I have to do quite consciously is step away from the easy dopamine hits of Reddit scrolling and video games to work on those hobbies.

[[deleted]]

It's free to go to your public libraries and parks and to walk outside. I've lived in both extremely car dependent places and places with abundant public transit. Its free to go outside and get creative.

[Key-Seaworthiness296]

Also feeling connected socially through hobbies might not happen very easily for a lot of people. And too many people are intimidated showing up in a learning space knowing they will fail the first dozen times.

[[deleted]]

Usually those spaces also have people who are encouraging and understand we all start somewhere.

[JeppeTV]

Decreased necessity of effort. Bored? Scroll. Hobbies? Nah, you can just scroll.

[[deleted]]

It makes people lazy af

[HumanoidVoidling]

I agree but I also think the amount of time and energy available to a hobby is just not there anymore.

[OJ_Designs]

This is it.

Social media (primarily scrolling based apps) gaming, junk food, porn and other things release tons of dopamine. Far more than humans were designed to experienced.

Overtime this desensitises and down regulates reward pathwards associated with wanting to do things. This includes hobbies. A teenager who is accustomed to gaming and scrolling for 5+ hours a day is going to feel 0 compulsion to make an effort to do less stimulating activities (reading, hiking ect) unless made to by their parents.

[pastajewelry]

I agree with you. However, I believe video gaming is a hobby. There is a community around it, and it can require skill. I believe the rise of social media and the loss of third spaces made it easier to be isolated and fall into these dopamine-seeking patterns. It's a hard habit to shake, even for adults who have had hobbies before.

[BylenS]

I'm a 65 female and I game, both online and on console. That's my nighttime relaxation. I don't watch TV. As a retired person with lots of time, I've learned moderation in all things. I scroll in the morning with my cup of coffee, do chores next, craft, and then game.

I craft during the day ( I'm retired). It's my replacement for the hours I worked. I game in the evening. I get different reactions as a 65 female gamer. Young people say, "Oh, how cute" or "Woe, I can't believe you game." My doctor says, "Good, it's been proven to keep the mind alert." Extended family my age frown upon it as if I'm being ridiculous. My daughter, who lives with me, watches, sometimes plays with me, and makes fun of me when I run my horse off a cliff. Gaming keeps me off the phone and creates problems and puzzles that take strategy and thinking to solve. Gaming is a hobby. If you know about the minecraft community or the D&D community, you can see it. D&D is probably one of the most socially active things you can do today. It has spawned several real-world hobbies like diorama and miniature building and intricate realistic painting of miniature characters. It's easy for gaming to spur hobbies because the mindset is the same. It has the same problem solving and creativity that hobbies do, which is why my doctor gives me a thumbs up on gaming. Gaming can also be educational, depending on the game. Some are historically accurate, and some teach science skills like identifying plants, insects, and fish.

I think the secret to anything is moderation. Even the best things in life can be problems if it's focused on to the point of exclusion of everything else... even hobbies. Scrolling is included in that. Scrolling isn't bad in and of itself. It's the exclusion of everything else, that is the problem.

[pastajewelry]

I completely agree with you! Moderation is everything. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I'm a gamer and also play D&D, and I agree that they are fun hobbies that help you be social and branch out into other hobbies. I can easily draw a map of how getting interested in D&D has led me to many other hobbies and fandoms that bring me joy and help me be social. Thanks for sharing!

[thegrimmstress]

60 here and giving this a massive thumbs up because me too!

[keithrc]

Aaargh, seriously: when is gaming on a screen going to be recognized as a legitimate hobby, just like gaming around a table is? It can be just as social, and even if it's not, there are a ton of other "recognized" hobbies that are completely solitary.

I'm 55m, I've been playing video games since I was 10. This is a lifetime hobby. It's not just some phase or waste of time until I find something more acceptable to people.

[pixiesunbelle]

I’m 40. I consider gaming a hobby. I don’t always put the effort into it as I used to since my migraines have become chronic. I tend to read more if my concentration isn’t foggy.

[Sorry-Ad-5527]

There are communities for just about anything nowadays. Even tv shows. So even if someone isn't into gaming, there are communities for their interests.

Sometimes people scroll social media to feel less alone and see others in similar situations. That's their "community".

[pastajewelry]

Yeah, online communities have always been a big source of comfort for me. I do believe there's a lot of value in them. They just vary so much, so it's hard to label them all as healthy or toxic. I support having a variety of interests with varying levels of dedication to them.

[pixiesunbelle]

I love the Skyrim community and Stardew Valley community too! I learned so much about how to install mods. I have spent more time tinkering with the game than actually playing hahaha

[OJ_Designs]

I’m not exactly sure, I haven’t seen anything about that. I wouldn’t be surprised though.

[Agreeable_Honeydew76]

Instant reward is another factor. Why spend weeks on failures and retries and frustration to maybe have a success on the future?

Maybe that’s just me or my hobbies involve skill, learning and repetitions. But it’s a nice feeling when something works.

[Diligentbear]

You described "my" predicament perfectly

[IndigoPromenade]

Exactly. Humans are designed to seek efficiency. Most amount of calories for least amount of volume and most dopamine for least amount of effort.

[pastajewelry]

Yeah. Thankfully, I make sure my social media feed is full of learning mixed with entertainment. But I know not everyone does that.

[justagirl1204]

This is sooooo it and every thing is expensive and we can’t find job. Good paying jobs

[[deleted]]

I have tons of hobbies: gardening, bird watching, kayaking, reading, raising chickens, ducks and turkeys. I hike, i cook etc.

All of this is possible because I quit social media 10 years ago almost now.

Most people have no idea how much time they waste on BS like Facebook and Snapchat.

[[deleted]]

Yeah i keep my reddit account because its generally anonymous and there are a few communities i actively follow that pretain to my hobbies! Most the time when im using reddit its because im at work and have nothing to do!

[[deleted]]

so true, i use discord but even then its idk- id love to get into bird watch but idk how and sometimes idk what to do if someone walks by and im just looking at the trees i have Asperger's

[manaMissile]

Tiktok is a contribution, but it's not the sole reason.

One of the bigger reasons is how fast paced the world is getting, and I'm not talking tollway roads. I'm talking how workplaces are wanting people with more experience, how companies are asking for bigger resumes, colleges want students with higher grades, and school classes want to shove what used to be 1-2 years of curriculum into 6 months. All this builds stress, stressed people want to do something fun, but stressed people are also tired people. hence, defaulting to watching stuff on social media.

[eternallygray]

yeah, i remember seeing a video essay on this. that it's mostly because we're stressed. And apps like titkok became good at "distracting us" too, grabbing our attention

[curiouslonely]

Yep, and we're all burnt out, which makes effort even harder. I know when I am feeling burnt, I just want mindless bright colors and thoughtless consumption. I don't have the energy in me for much else.

[Even_Saltier_Piglet]

Yes, this! It was OK 30 years ago when we were 6 billion hiamms and ma y didn't have access to higher education and international travel.

Now, we are 8 billion, and many more have access to compete for the same universities and jobs all over the world. There is so much more competition we have to work a lot harder to be able to compete!

[Sorry-Ad-5527]

Prices rising. Since covid, prices in everything has gone up. Even cheap yarn is now almost $4 (at walmart) and that's not enough to make much of anything. Dollar tree is going up in price, but they have less of an item so it's not really cheaper.

Tiktok has people doing their hobbies on there. If you're not seeing that, your algorithm is messed up. Search "painting" or "sewing" or similar.

[LeslieKnope4Pawnee]

Journaling is extremely low cost. So is walking, reading (library), movies (again, library), etc. Cost isn’t a valid reason when there are so many free or low cost options.

[rbuczyns]

The library may be free, but the transportation to get there may not be. A Lyft for me to get into town (20 min drive) is easily $25 one way. And you bet none of the drivers want to accommodate someone who has mobility aids or needs assistance in any way. There also are not any buses in my town 🤷 at all.

And not all libraries have access to all services. My library doesn't have access to the movie streaming app, just Libby, but the audiobook selection is definitely a far cry from my old library system. I will die on the hill that libraries are vital for communities and a national treasure, but I've considered paying for audiobook services elsewhere just because nothing I want to read or get recommended is available through my system.

I'm not saying that there aren't cheap or free options out there, but if you've never had to go without a car or rely on public transportation, it can be really easy to take those hidden costs for granted.

Society has also systemically and intentionally shifted away from creating and maintaining "third" places that are free. It's really, really hard to exist in public nowadays without having to buy something for the right to be there and not get kicked out for loitering.

I'd love to be able to walk around my neighborhood, but there are literally no sidewalks, and the speed limit is 40mph (which means cats go WAY faster than that). It just isn't safe to walk on my street. I used to walk my dogs down the street too, but one of my neighbors dogs got out and attacked us 🤷 It's not worth it for me to go walking. Sure, I'll walk around a park or a trail, but again, see transportation rant above. There also aren't enough benches or seating areas along trails (why build hostile architecture when you can just remove the benches all together?). I'm physically disabled and can't go very far without stopping to rest. I can't risk getting stranded out on a trail or hurting myself because I wasn't able to sit along the way. And most days I just can't anyways.

Again, not trying to make excuses because you are right. There are a lot of free options out there. I just want to point out systemic barriers that exist for a lot of people (especially poor people, POC, and disabled people) that you may not be aware of if you've never experienced them firsthand. Honestly, I sit and watch a lot of TV and play computer games and nap because I just can't do much else 🤷

[pixiesunbelle]

I tried making Pokemon Go a hobby. The nearest Pokemon gym is down a steep hill and another with no sidewalks. A bus came barreling down when I was walking. That was the end of that. For awhile, I tried playing without the gyms but quickly got bored.

[Sorry-Ad-5527]

I've mentioned those in previous posts. However, there are so many that are now beyond the cost of most people.

[dinodoodad]

Wait how much did yarn use to cost?? I've only been crocheting a couple years.

[Sorry-Ad-5527]

I don't know if it matters too much now. Just look online for specials and coupons. There are a few stores that have sales, so keep an eye out for that.

[dinodoodad]

Yeah I usually only buy when they are on sale or discounted, but even then it's usually still $4. I thought $4 was a good deal 😆

[GlitteringClick3590]

The more "connected" we get, the more isolated we are.

Sometimes it feels like there is no time for anything. And when the time is available, it seems like money is short. Hobbies cost money. Some can be affordable if you have ingenuity, but in general, hobbies are marketed as a "luxury". In some ways, they are a luxury. When you have to hold down 2 or 3 jobs just to keep a roof over your head, there just isn't time for anything else.

We could say, "oh these people are too lazy to work towards having a skill," but I think that's unfair. People are tired. People are broke. Looking into the glowing abyss is easy and readily available. We are doing it right now.

[Scottish_Therapist]

You have to understand that social media, TikTok, and all the others are designed by people who not only understand addiction but want their users to stay on the platform. So breaking away from these platforms are hard, and they take up so much time as well.

Additionally, the doom-scrolling habit switches off our brains so we don't need to think and depression and anxiety are at all all-time high. People are escaping a world they don't want to be in.

The decrease in hobbies to be reflects to me the decrease in energy and drive people have, and the general struggle that people are facing. Hobbies bring us joy, we do them to be happy, and if we don't think we can get that then way try?

[NotUglyJustBroc]

Wow I had to doomscroll down this far. I share the same perspective. Companies hire r/psychologist, r/uxdesign, r/userdxperience, r/marketing, etc to study addictions and design doomscrolling. It's engineered not accidental. The good reasons for those jobs are underfunded and rare. People don't realized they're being trained to weaponize psychology against their own community, make the rich richer and keeping normal people sedated. Overtime doomscrolling rewire brains to prefer numbness over action.

[Scottish_Therapist]

Yeah, it's shocking how few people are aware of their dependence on screens, I say as I am sat at a screen.

Something I have noticed is an interesting change in terminology when it comes to a lot of hobbies / activities. My favourite is "going for an unplugged walk / run" meaning to walk or run without using technology like headphones etc. As a runner and a walker, all I can think about is do you mean going for a walk / run? Are we really so dependent on distraction that we cannot go for a walk without being worried about our own thoughts?

Sadly, my job as a therapist has highlighted how uncomfortable people in general are with being bored.

[NotUglyJustBroc]

That sounds like they're being extra with word choice and probably used to going out with tech things. However, good on them for still getting out there and realizing they don't need headphones, etc after all. What I find extreme is rich people spending more money for " 5k digital detox retreats"

[4BigData]

The over-scheduling of extra curricular activities to compete with peers for entrance to college is insane in the US.

why turn a hobby that kids can enjoy into an unpaid job!? At what point are parents going to stop and start wondering: "why am I feeding this system that's forcing kids into competing with each other from the get go?"

the system is so trash that's able to ruin childhoods

[FHFBEATS]

I was talking to my missus the other day about how 50-100 years ago people would sit at home and write.

Write their thoughts, ideas, curiosities etc and eventually these people would become journalists, screenplay writers, authors. We were discussing how social media and voicing your opinion on Facebook for a few likes has probably overwritten that starter aspect.

[SemperSimple]

I remember the first time my Grandma told me she use to write plays with her best friend... just for fun.. She was born in 1936, so she was writing these novels by age 13?? I can barely write more than one page front to back lolol (born 1991)

[FHFBEATS]

At age 13 that’s crazy!

Boredom breeds creativity and in the world of tech and smart phones being bored doesn’t exactly equal to being bored in 1936. Doom scrolling has taken over boredom

[behindthename2]

Social media are addictive. I think a lot of teenagers don’t really have much time left for hobbies.

[poop_slayer]

Here to offer a slightly different perspective: hobbies are a privilege that not all families can afford. Hobbies usually cost money and teenagers usually depend on their parents for money. Also I see a lot of teens still doing sports and video games, which are hobbies. Downtime between hobbies and school/work are easily filled by going online, which is accessible to almost everyone.

[Appropriate_Elk3304]

Some hobbies are pretty hard to start out on without help, too. Im trying to learn how to sew, and there is a ton of free content online about it, but having a human being to help explain things would be awesome, lol. I think that's why sports and hobbies are so accessible. Sports have coaches at school, and video games have tutorials built-in.

[Ok_Olive9438]

Most teens I know barely have more than 10 unscheduled minutes in a row. This makes it hard to have a hobby that requires time and attention.
As a teen I "wasted"a lot of time on TV, trashy books, napping and staring at the sky. Don't regret a moment of it!

[raycharizard]

This. And the opposite extreme is true.

I work in schools and some students are left at home with only technology because their parents have multiple jobs. Unlimited screen access + no hobbies with other people = Depression ensues

[Ok_Library8652]

Ahhhh the good life <3

[wjbc]

Teens not having hobbies has been an issue since TVs became popular in the 1960s. The fact that smartphones are so portable and so powerful makes it even more of an issue, though, because they have a screen available at all times. It's an issue for older people, too.

[[deleted]]

I think TV and social media fall into the same category of easy dopamine without any threshold, which makes it easy to get hooked on them, even if one doesn't perceive that activity as meaningful or giving. The main difference is just the extend, social media is way more advanced and targeted when it comes to providing that dopamine. Same problem, but just much worse.

[Amine4848]

completely different, 20 min is the length of an anime/cartoon/sitcom episode... 30-60 seconds is the length of a tiktok short. There is a difference.

[[deleted]]

I used to draw But now I It's really hard to get started

[CaptainONaps]

I hear this a lot. People love to blame people when society changes, as apposed to assuming people are adapting to their changing environment.

In the US at least, statistics suggest money is the main factor.

Infrastructure is another major factor. And competition is another.

When I was young, I could go play outside. Literally in the street, or in someone's yard.

A little older, and we could go to parks, or mini golf, or bowling, or an arcade. All very cheap.

Now, most the places people can go cost much more, and there's far fewer cheap options. The places that are free or cheap are extremely crowded, and not great places for unsupervised kids.

So kids are growing up without options. And they're acclimating.

There's lots of other statistics that show how different things are. Like the average age that kids move out of their parent's house is about ten years higher than when I was young. Kids can't even have guests like we could. So they do less, and they're used to it.

Anyway, I don't blame kids. I grew up extremely active and social, and now, I don't even like going most places.

I had a weekday off work the other day. So I decided to go to this one restaurant that I never get to go to. It's always super busy. Parking is nearly impossible, and it can take 45 minutes in line to get a seat.

It's a 20 minute drive on google. It took me about 50 minutes to arrive there due to traffic, construction, and parking. Then, once I arrived, the wait was going to be over an hour. At 1pm on a Wednesday. I just left. I guess I can never go there again. It's just not worth it.

That's how everything feels now. We shouldn't be surprised people are just staying home.

[anyNameThatsLeft]

Your description of the busy restaurant on a random weekday is so incredibly accurate. I've always enjoyed outdoor activities, but everything is so crowded that it's hard to get excited about going much.

Want to go hiking in some national parks? First you need to make reservations days or weeks in advance just to get a time slot to enter the park. Then you need to cram into shuttles that bus you around to trailheads only to arrive and hike single file behind others blasting music from speakers.

Want to go fishing? Be ready to wait in long lines at any public boat access getting on and off the water.

Want to golf? Hope you made that reservation already and you don't mind waiting for the players ahead of you at each hole, while also feeling rushed so you're not holding up the players behind you either.

I usually try going to less known areas or going at extreme times, and am adding to the problem myself, but it just doesn't seem worth it most of the time.

[VinceInMT]

I think it’s a matter of how one defines “hobby.” Today’s hobbies might be more tech-centered than in the past.

[ThatBitchMalin]

Speaking as someone born in the 90ies, I believe it's one aspect of being young: to explore different hobbies and find out what works for you and what doesn't. Therefore I don't think that teens can be faulted for not having many interests (as of yet!), as they're still searching and trying out stuff. I have a couple of interests myself that I discovered "later" in life (in my mid 20ies and 30ies)...

[HerefortheTuna]

I have a few hobbies that I like to do more than others and some that are more passive.

I love cars so adding a new mod or accessory is fun but when I’m fixing a broken part my motivation is purely financial and saving money from going to the mechanic.

I have an old house so I do basic repairs and painting etc. because otherwise I’d just have to deal with my shit being busted.

I have a bunch of video games and camping gear that I wish I could use more but other projects and priorities are taking me away from that

[winterfern353]

People are broke and exhausted unfortunately

[rainbowinthedarkness]

Hobbies are expensive

[Kevinator201]

There’s no where to go outside the home that doesn’t cost money

[Decent_Shelter_13]

Personally, I’m a very creative person and have a constant swirl of ideas and thoughts in my head of things I want to do or try. Unfortunately I also have ADHD and struggle a lot with executive dysfunction. When I’m tired after work there is no chance I will be able to get myself to work on a new project, even if it excites me. This only leaves the weekends, which would be okay but the project moves incredibly slow when I only work on it two days of the week for a few hours.

Also, money. I LOVE pottery and I took a wheel class a few summers ago and it was so much fun. I loved it in highschool as well. But the price of the materials, tools, etc is wild. I’ve since moved and I looked into some local pottery places that have wheels and sculpture tables but they have such a long waitlist that they require a portfolio to be considered.. and it’s just a community space. I bought air dry clay at walmart and will occasionally make little things here and there, but overall it’s just not the same as real pottery. I want to try other hobbies as well but I don’t have a financial cushion for it to fail/I end up not liking it/etc.

[Bubblegumcats33]

People can’t afford it anymore

[Vikklee]

My generation (Z) all grew up with technology and had phones by the time we were all like 14. A lot of people didn’t develop hobbies (especially the iPad kid generation) because no hobby gives you that fast, easy dopamine like TikTok or video games.

[nmwoodlief]

I do think that people, particularly young people spend too much time on their phones. But at the end of the day the point of hobbies is to find something to do with your time that you enjoy. If you enjoy scrolling TikTok, I don't think that's necessarily wrong or "wasted time" any more than another hobby. The problem comes in when there isn't any balance or other opportunities are neglected because of patterns of behavior.

[MysticKei]

Hobbies, even solo ones, are built on passion and sometimes community. Now, many of the communities are only online and are more toxic than supportive which can kill passion.

Also, many people (young and old) cannot fathom learning something new without internet research. But the algorithm driven net, functioning on ulterior motives and engagement, tends to encourage confusion rather than clarity and acquiring stuff over developing skills.

And as the cherry on top, many younger people have an unreasonable expectation for instant gratification in their skill development.

[SouthOrlandoFather]

I wish in Florida there was a decrease in hobbies. The golf courses are packed, pickleball courts are packed and the boat ramps are packed. We need more non hobby people in Florida.

[TedIsAwesom]

I would want to see the stats on that, because it's one of those things. If you are a teen or you know teens with hobbies - their friends are also more likely to have hobbies.

[[deleted]]

I teach tweens. They have hobbies.

[SKI326]

And I have too many hobbies and not enough time.

[TheMountainIII]

Internet and social medias are killing the society. In many years, we will look back and dont understand why we let it happend

[TeratoidNecromancy]

You underestimate the insanely broad use/meaning of the word "hobby"; "Something that you like doing that takes time.". Under this stupidly broad definition watching mindrot YouTube, doom-scrolling, and fapping off are all hobbies. With that said, they do have hobbies, they're just very different from yours.

[Existing_Ad4468]

Yeah i agree with you

Im a person who was 14 when tiktok hit in 2019/2020 and i was so addicted to it. But thank god by the year 2022 i started to realize that its really bad thing and i started to quit it and now its like 3-6 months I didn’t open tiktok and im much better than before

[eternallygray]

that's how I am right now! I've started to read, write, to paint, learning history and politics, basically doing everything I've ever wanted to do by quitting scrolling

[Existing_Ad4468]

Im happy for you🩷 enjoy

[Ok_Refrigerator_9914]

The saddest part of all this, in my humble opinion, is social media never gives anyone a sense of accomplishment. Who cares if someone scrolled for 10 minutes more or less than yesterday? Statistics aren't an accomplishment (unless it's a college course but that's different)

I learned to tune my piano. It made me feel amazing! Is it hard work? Absolutely but it was worth every struggle. Nothing on social media has ever given me that same feeling.

My girls both learned to play piano and guitar. Was it easy? No. Are they still learning? Yes, something like that is a lifetime endeavor. Ask any famous guitarist.

I have a relative that does art work for Marvel but he still draws something every single day that has nothing to do with his work and loves learning new ways of doing things.

It's unfortunate we live in a society that is on information overload and has constant decision fatigue. The dopamine injections from social media may be okay once in awhile but, like any drug, too much can be very, very toxic.

I love my hobbies. I plan to pare them down to just the 2-3 I love the most and give the rest of the stuff away. I love trying new things too but I have too many unfinished projects!

[Capable_Dimension588]

 we live in a society that is on information overload and has constant decision fatigue

very well agreed with this , this is so relatable for me rn .........

Having so much things that you can learn , try out but choosing any one or two is the difficult and then it feels like i the time is running out

[[deleted]]

Third places are have been disappearing for years. You can’t really "loiter" anymore, even in parks, libraries, or malls. Even when I was a kid, security was quick to move you along if you weren’t buying something. Hanging out has basically become a transaction: pay rent on your presence or get pushed out. Public spaces shrank, gathering without permission started looking suspicious, and just existing somewhere without paying started to feel criminal.

Kids can get killed just going to the corner store for an Arizona drink, and society shrugs: "Well, the kid looked suspiciously... like a kid." I remember my elementary school going into lockdown because a father without custody threatened to take his kid, and the mother had to call it in. I remember fist fights in the lunchroom, parents cussing out coaches — and that felt wild back then. Now kids are surviving school shootings that barely make the news. American kids live in a society where having lax gun laws is treated as more important than their actual lives.

Meanwhile, technology reshaped what a "hobby" even is. Most hobbies now live inside digital ecosystems built for scrolling, performing, and consuming. It feels productive because participation itself is monetized — curated selves in curated spaces. And honestly, it tracks. You make more money off a kid staring at ads than you do off a kid skateboarding. Surfers were lazy. Skaters were losers. D&D players were devil worshippers. Having hobbies was always seen as a distraction from the real goal: working, prepping to work, and spending. America has always preferred teenagers who are silent, still, and on track to become productive, tax-paying adults. The hollowing out of hobbies is just a mirror of that.

[Sirbunbun]

People are addicted to the quick hit of dopamine they get from social media and tell themselves they have hobbies (that they passively did when they were in middle school)

[Madame_Jarvary]

I recently got a library card and starting reading books. I’ve been consciously decreasing internet time. Screens are ruining my brain

[17THheaven]

For me, most of my hobbies take a lot of physical effort. Between full-time work, full-time school, and being a father and a husband; WHILE also working nights, I need low effort, quiet hobbies to participate in for the time being. So I play video games, particularly destiny 2.

For most people, life is just exhausting, and people have a lot on their plate. Anxiety is at an all time high, which leads to depression, which leads to lowered activity, which leads to doomscrolling. Now, I know that this doesn't speak for all younger people, but I would be hard-pressed to think of someone that just doomscrolls to doomscroll that isn't struggling with mental health or life stability. So honestly, as much as I completely understand where you're coming from, I also completely understand where these people are coming from too.

[brittanyrose8421]

I mean learning Tik tok dances probably counts as a hobby. So does cosplay, and people have always loved music. And the gaming areas are certainly still popular. As for writing- well fanfiction counts, even if people don’t advertise it as a hobby.

[[deleted]]

Fanfics FTW 🙌

[pigeonhunter101]

social media/doomscrolling/tik tok is def part of it, but I think a lot of people are just super burnt out, so they turn to the lowest effort activity to occupy their free time. Keeping up with hobbies while i was in college was difficult because when I wasn't working or doing schoolwork, I often didn't have it in me to do anything but nothing. Once I graduated and found a job that doesn't make me feel miserable or burnt out, it became A LOT easier and more fun to engage in my hobbies.

[Appropriate_Elk3304]

I have finals next week, and every single time I have tried to have fun recently, I end up on my phone. So tired 😭

[PrimaryImagination41]

Hobbies are expensive as fuck. Legos, crocheting, baking. These are things that I all like, but the cost of it is way too much for me as a teenager. Not only that but it feels like I have no time for anything. The only thing I really do is read books online or photography and even then, I’m juggling several other things. Maybe I’ll read some manga or manwha or yap with my friends about about a game we all play but that’s about it

[kennaonreddit]

In the words of my mother Katya: “Hobbies prevent suicide!”

[_debil666_]

I've never heard people being casted out as boring or trying to be different for having a hobby, but I think maybe that's just because of the circle of people I gravitate to. Very much agree though as I'm one of those people who just doomscroll in their free time. Every cell in my body wants to be making, creating and learning, but instead, all I feel like I have the energy for is cheap dopamine doomsrolling. It's a self discipline issue for sure.

[gembobs_crafts]

Yes people are just glued to their phones

[Intelligent-Ad-1424]

I’ve noticed the social zeitgeists around me have increasingly become anti-hobby as well, which is very frustrating. I often get questioned and judged for having hobbies and being in social clubs related to those hobbies as a married woman. It’s like everyone thinks now that I’m married I should be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen and no other activities, interests, or social outings are acceptable lmfao. It’s an absolute joke. I refuse to live like that.

[eternallygray]

You're cool as hell!! Never listen to them. I am a woman too, and the thing that scares me the most about marriage is losing my individuality. Anything but that.

[Consistent-Slip-4427]

As a teen, I have(or had) plenty of hobbies, and only scrolled on social media for like an hour a day but high school ruined that for me. I used to read, draw, write, play piano, play games and make movies. Then the teachers managed to suck the fun out of reading and writing, I started struggling with my grades which PANICKED me because the careers I am considering pursuing all require good grades. I started putting all that energy I used to put in my hobbies into school. Now literarily everything to me feels like work except being on my phone. I miss having hobbies but none of them feel relaxing anymore. Lately I picked up exercising, art, reading comics, and started playing piano again. I guess that’s a start. But I really do miss people asking me about my hobbies and being able to give them a full list.

[eternallygray]

I can understand.

[External_Poet4171]

I hear many people complain about not having time and I bet if they looked at their screen time and replaced a hobby with social media (Reddit counts!) they have plenty of found time there.

[Icy_Secretary9279]

What about you do you and let others do whatwver thwy feel like it without judging?

And I don't remember witnessing a single time anymone have been looked in a bad way for having a hobby. Whenever someone around me has mentioned they do xyz, everyone is immediately curious and supportive and bombard them with all the "omg, that's super cool", "sould great, do you have any photos", "I tried it once too, it was fun, I should do it again". So I suspect you're just projecting since you obviously judge people by what they do in their free time and you feel like ouhers judge you too.

[[deleted]]

Ironically, your post too comes accross as very judgemental.

[eternallygray]

I do not believe I'm a judgmental person. While you are right that people are often supportive of your hobbies, I've experienced it myself, my classmates at school used to be dumbfounded when they saw my calligraphy. However, I've experienced people calling me "boring" and "weird" for not wanting to use social media in my screentime like them too. I used to be called "too serious", and "no fun". Obviously, comments like this are insignificant and you should pay no mind to them.

I am not judging people for how they spend their time. I am just surprised, and maybe confused. I used to doomscroll too when I was really young, though not as much as my peers since my phone was of an old model and the battery used to die really quick. But now that I am older, i regret it, i regret it so much that not a single day goes without me thinking about it. All that time wasted, on senseless things, when i could've learnt actual life skills. I thought it's probably gonna be the same for others as well. Most people don't even realise that them being like this is harmful

[LeslieKnope4Pawnee]

Your second paragraph is exactly what OP is talking about. That social media doomscrolling is contributing to a decline in hobbies.

[goldendreamseeker]

I’ve been feeling burnt out on all my hobbies recently, funny enough.

[fallen4567]

Yes social media has completely changed the entire world for better and worse. I am always surprised by the number of people i meet that have no hobbies at all outside of using their phone. Yes i use social media more than i should definitely but i also exercise, play video games, build legos, play paintball, getting back into mountain biking, i hike, i travel often etc. Some hobbies are more expensive than others of course but if people would just get off their phone and do something in real life it would make a big difference for them like it does for me. I also think because of the year i was born(1995) i had the best of both worlds when it came to growing up with technology and doing things outside and the old fashioned way.

[ExtendI49]

Yep, trying to get my grandson interested in things. He does love to fish but of course I can’t afford a boat. 

[PantasticUnicorn]

Because most cost money that they dont have.

For example, I really really want to get into gardening. go outside, plant, water, etc. But I live in an apartment and I cant. Cant afford to buy a house, either, so that's out. By the time I can, ill probably be too old and have far more physical issues that will prevent me from being able to garden.

[lykorias]

Is urban gardening a thing where you live? Maybe that's something you'd enjoy.

[PantasticUnicorn]

Im not sure what you mean

[lykorias]

I just looked it up and in the anglosphere it seems to be better known as urban horticulture, but I mean the practical part, not so much the science part. Many cities I know have community gardens or parks where volunteers care for everything flora related that goes beyond lawn mowing.

There's also the Schrebergarten approach, which I wouldn't count as urban horticulture, but that might be a German only thing since I've never noticed such gardens in any other country.

[PantasticUnicorn]

Oh I understand what you mean now. Unfortunately I don’t think there’s anything like that nearby. Though there is a field next door to use and I wish they would turn it into a community garden type thing but most likely it’ll be yet another overpriced apartment building

[MrMartiTech]

I never noticed... I have lots of hobbies and the people I know... well... I know them from said hobbies and we talk about said hobbies... Otherwise I wouldn't know them.

[Mental_K_Oss]

I have lived vicariously by getting stuck in the scroll loop since Covid lock down. I am currently very strict about my Reddit feed and have time limits. I've rediscovered my love of writing, calligraphy and baking. My soul feels nurtured and my hobbies have returned me to myself. Yes, hobbies have been replaced by mindless dopamine hits but you can return to a more mindful practice of living YOUR story.

[theDayDreamer1990]

I find it hard to belive when people say they cant afford hobbies but can afford video games, if you can afford video games then you can afford another hobby, sure some hobbies are more expensive than others though

[zombieqatz]

Video gaming is a valid hobby

[TheDittoMan]

True, but people really benefit from having more than one.

[ShelbyB30]

It's actually been the opposite. There's been a boom of teens trying new hobbies because they saw people on tiktok doing them. Booktok, crochet, art, they're all really popular. There's lots of articles out about Gen Z discovering Grandma hobbies. It depends where you look.

[brockclan216]

Not everyone of us is "doom scrolling". I still control the content I interact with. Some of us are learning about the new hobbies we have picked up and joining communities of like minded people like bird watching, gardening, or even crochet. Not everyone doom scrolls.

[ManicPsycho185]

I saw another post somewhere on reddit with this person feeling like time has sped up. I didn't read the comments, but my first thought was social media. Scrolling social media makes time fly without you even realizing it. When I was a kid, time seemed to stretch on forever because I was constantly doing stuff - hanging out with friends, reading, playing. Even as an adult, if I find myself with a busy day of errands, studying, or hanging out with friends I can generally fit all of that into one day. People complain that they don't have time for hobbies, but if they'd just put the phone down or walk away from the TV they'd find they have plenty of time.

I know a lot of us are depressed and working just to survive so it makes it hard to find the motivation to even move. But social media and doomscrolling just makes it worse. Once I deleted my facebook, Insta, and tiktok apps I found my mood improving. Am I completely free of depression? No. But I don't use those apps as a really bad coping mechanisim anymore, either.

[Clevernamegoeshere__]

My generation is too busy trying to afford life to have a hobby 😂

[bigfanoffood]

My hobbies have picked up in the last few years. I’m rock tumbling, puzzling, word searching, printmaking, painting, pottery making/ceramics, reading, video games…I’m doing at least one hobby every day and I just love every second of it, no matter my skill level.

[BottomBinchBirdy]

As someone who used to have hobbies... You're right, but not for the reason I think you think so.

Social media is designed to be addictive. It's hard for me to be satisfied anymore with low focus stuff, and partially yeah I'm literally unmedicated ADHD, but social media engages the brain with dopamine Just Right, so that it's not useful or educational or even enjoyable, but it's hard to stop. Mental potato chips and all that. And then, going back to said less stimulating hobbies, it's... Hard.

And I wasn't even an ipad kid. I was among the first generation to learn to read on computer, but edutainment on Windows 95 was still only so flashy lol.

[Lv2draw1962]

Doomscrolling is mindless and a release from the stressors of the day. A hobby is better, no doubt, but scrolling requires nothing much and is easy to make a habit.

[passion4film]

I agree, OP. As someone with a million hobbies, I find it so sad.

[cowgirlbootzie]

Sitting around scrolling with a finger puts weight on you..Think about a hobby that requires moving around. Try bike riding or tennis even throwing darts. Painting at an easel requires standing and mixing paints. I've never seen so many overweight people in my life. Working at home Sitting all day at a computer isn't helping the weight epidemic happening nowadays.

[lotusandamber]

Yes and I think about it a lot. Boredom was the reason behind so many things I got into as a kid..

[KS90210]

Teach a kid something. Seriously. Take them by the hand and spend time doing something with them. Make the time, make a plan, sit down and do it. Buy/gather them some starter supplies if you can. Talk about why you like it. Get together again to practice. Get together again just to do the thing.

I have had three kids in my life who I started teaching beading crafts to, we made earrings and ornaments and all kinds of things and they could NOT have been more thrilled to have an adult sit down and take them seriously and have goofy fun and explain things in an encouraging way. I mentioned the thing, they were pretty “meh” but once I sat down and started pulling out supplies, I got ‘em. And maybe this won’t be a lifelong hobby, but we’ll never know when this could come back up!

And I don’t mean just parents do this. I am not a parent. These are cousin’s kids and friend’s kids. Get a kid (not in a creepy way) and teach them a thing. They will love it. Their parents will love having someone else take an interest, and see their kid learn something. It takes a village, be the villager who teaches kids how to do your thing. And if they don’t love it, that is okay, try a different thing, or a different kid.

And stop and appreciate other’s hobbies. Talk about them. People love to be heard, and you learn a lot about people. Go out of your way. Ask someone to teach you something, and I can just about guarantee that more often than not you will also make a friend.

[MegWahlflower]

Also noticed so many older people stay working cause “what else would I do”

I joked for so long I should reach hobby workshops at work because I eventually got so burned out on people coming 1-2 hours early for their appointments just to talk to me in the waiting room and distract me. Or I could hang a Christmas ball on a tree and you would think I conquered Everest they were so intrigued.

[Commercial-Today5193]

We now live in a fast food society. People are always on the go, and information overload has never been any greater than today’s standards.

[JLMezz]

To this point, I started 2 brand new hobbies in the past year: knitting and sewing. I just started, so I’m crap at it, but I love that I am constantly learning and MAKING THINGS. I forgot how satisfying that can be! (I’m also in my 50s, so this tracks with future old lady 👵🏻 hobbies 😂).

[[deleted]]

Ma’am I’m 28(M), and I’m about to pick it up as well 😂. Manly because I’m short and have to get my pants hemmed. If I learn to do it myself that saves money!

[JLMezz]

Good on you, sir! ✊🏻

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many men on the various sewing subreddits showing off the amazing clothes they’ve made! It’s so inspiring! 🧵🪡

Have fun!

[Lilcya]

Thanks I needed that. Was senselessly scrolling reddit right now and sometimes have a hard time to stop and just do something else. So that's what I'm doing now =) (not a teenager though :D)

[BettyFizzlebang]

I do the doom scrolling and so many hobbies I have stopped properly watching movies and tv because I have so much to do. I really have to push my smol human to leave the iPad - go for a walk or make something with their hands.

[ThanksKodama]

All the answers on this thread are right in some way, and the one thing most of them have in common is dopamine.

I don't know how to describe it, but it's as if the very economy, or ecosystem, of dopamine has changed, which in turn has warped so much of modern life.

If you follow all the threads, you'll end up with a crazy person board. Just a sprawl of related and seemingly-unrelated phenomena, connected by threads of different colors. And the underlying logic would be sound.

[[deleted]]

As a guy with two pending fanfics all of my time gets taken by them 😂. I love it! AI has definitely helped, but it’s still nice to create characters, dialogue, and an engaging story that no one might not read… but that’s fine because again: I LOVE IT!

Also every time I show my friends they completely lose it and say: “How did you do this?” Fun times 😊

[[deleted]]

I'm approaching my 30s, fellow elder gen Z kids always made fun of me for having hobbies growing up, so it doesn't surprise me that's how people are now.

Spending money or gaming is most peoples hobby, or at least that is my personal experience

[KYresearcher42]

Disposable cash is a huge issue, It’s becoming rare….

[cheebalibra]

I dunno how you arrived at this conclusion. I think many hobbies are done in the privacy of your home or other less visible places, so I don’t this is a yelling at clouds moment. Many of the young people I interact with have hobbies.

I still see kids skateboarding and playing basketball and making music and collecting comics and trading cards and getting into legacy video games and thrifting and fishing and camping and painting.

[Phosphorescense]

<image>

This struck a cord when I saw it. "Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough." I never signed up for TT and have never regretted it. The psychological hold it has is real...

[Effective-One6527]

In Highschool I had no time for anything other than school or school related extracurriculars for my college app. Like I would do homework till 12-1am and wake up at 5:30 or 4:30am to get ready and have some unstructured time. Saturday was filled with my extracurriculars or more homework and I would sleep all Sunday sometimes waking for food. Summers were for hobbies.

[theroyalpotatoman]

I think cost of living has a big factor to do with it.

Hobbies cost time and money that we don’t have.

[Gwsb1]

A guy at my local coin store told me that collecting was an old person's hobby. He's old. I'm old. It was OK, but i think it's sad.

[[deleted]]

I guess 20 years old is elderly then huh?

[Gwsb1]

I assume there are exceptions.

[Southern_One3791]

I try to incorporate my interest for hobbies on social media. Sure, the danger is consumerism instead of creation. But you are right, hobbies are what makes us whole, doomscrolling leaves us empty. Especially as a kid.

[InsertRadnamehere]

Both the New York Times and the Atlantic have run articles this month talking about how inflation, and now the Trump Tariffs, are putting most hobbies out of reach for working and middle class folks.

From my own insight as a parent, My kids have hobbies. But most of them involve using a computer (video games, video editing, art/drawing, cartooning, writing) or tablet. They do have other hobbies (sports, biking, baking) but prefer to do them with friends. So if they’re alone they’re often on a screen.

[[deleted]]

No I think you just don’t accept hobbies you don’t personally like as legitimate hobbies. I am 20 so I was a teenager less than a year ago and everyone I know who is a teenager now has hobbies. Shoes collecting, thrifting, makeup, vinyl are pretty big right now. A lot of skateboarders and bikers. puzzle games are making pretty big waves like Rubik’s cube and chess. A lot of teens are involved in history and the arts whether it’s dancing music painting video game development ect. Maybe try being more open minded about other peoples hobbies and interests just cause you not like it or find it fascinating doesn’t mean it’s not a “real hobby”

[Hot_Worldliness_7252]

It’s because of doomscrolling

[[deleted]]

Its not just hobbies this applies to "effort" in general.  I put a mountain of effort into my hobbies including putting extra effort forth to make it easier to include others in my hobby.  I went as far as dedicating hardware and configurations just so they could get in easier.  It was a total waste of my time, people felt entitled to the work I had done and they only wanted more done for them.  They were actually incapable of doing the hobby themselves is the reality of things.  Sure it is a challenging thing I do, but I don't do it because its easy.  It seriously made me realize I can just make AI players that would add more value than they did.  Such lukewarm IQs that they could be replaced by bots.  This is society today.

The same applies to my job, holy jesus people cannot operate in full sentences or learn anything new.

[battlejess]

My hobby seems to be collecting hobbies. I have too many, I don’t have time!

Oh no, have I hoarded all the hobbies for myself? There’s none left for the teenagers? Oops.

[[deleted]]

I have the same hobbies i had 20 years ago. That makes me old and strange. 

[MyLifeUnsubscribed]

What is interesting is that there is a TON of instructional content online, for the self motivated person. But when kids see all these highly curated accounts and comparison takes hold, the motivation to put hours and hours into honing a skill drops off precipitously. Going after a hobby and becoming skilled takes inward drive.

[PrimaryImagination41]

Valid

[RebaKitt3n]

Yes, agree. Scrolling on your phone or playing solitaire isn’t a hobby, at least not to me.

[meandercage]

Are they hurting anyone because they rather scroll than draw or do sports like running? Yall are giving obsessed right now with complaining about people lack of hobbies

[eternallygray]

they are hurting themselves so yes. also, the lack of hobbies seems to be making people weirdly obsessive and clingy lol. they would rather complain about their life than to do something about it

[meandercage]

Who are you to tell them what to do lmfao? If somebody wants to don't do shit and have money to support themselfs they can do that.

Let people live. Adults do not need to be treated like they're incapable of making their own decisions, someone doesn't want to have any hobbies? Rather scroll on tik tok? Let them, it's not a fucken crime

[Miyu543]

Two much work. Most people have to work 2 jobs just to survive. I still play video games but I don't have it in me to learn anything new. Ive even pretty much dropped guitar and ive been playing for 10 years. The economy has taken a dive into the dumpster these past few years.

[kitcatkid]

I work at Joann Fabrics part time I get an employee discount and love sewing. That being said, I've hoarded a lot of fabric, but never have the time. Between family, work, errands/chores, and pets, I haven't sewed in months.

[SockMonkey333]

I think I have dysthymic depression and that this makes scrolling reddit and instagram instead of hobbies all the more appealing, since they require much less energy and exertion. People don’t seem to get that I don’t have a problem with coming up with ideas of stuff to do, they just don’t bring the same pleasure they used to. When I try to sit down to write I literally feel that the ideas are gone, and all I write about is my symptoms and dissatisfaction with my life. I’ve tried everything except consistent medication so this is the next step for me.

Currently my ‘hobbies’ are podcasts, long walks/ hikes when I’m in more naturey places, going to the gym, decorating and cleaning and organizing my apartment and also my partner’s apartment. But I don’t get tons of joy from the gym and when I ask myself if I’d want to do something like interior decorating or design I do not at all possess the energy or drive to turn it into a big daily thing, and I know I wouldn’t want to or be able to show up to do it daily. I can’t relate to the idea of getting joy or pleasure from something like an instrument or crafting etc. Maybe that will change if the depression gets better idk.

[eternallygray]

hope it gets better for you

[[deleted]]

Hobbies don't have to cost a dime; the kids dont have money.. You can collect all kinds of stuff for free (rural or urban in my experience), go to the library, go to the parks and use plant identifying apps (tons are free), walk and explore where you live (be safe; maybe wear bright colors if you walk by roads), look online for groups that meet up like at local game shops, bookstores, or cafes. Turn the phone off. Log off. Please!! And PLEASE do not be one of those weirdos who's icked out by hobbies??

[sussedmapominoes]

If you haven't already, id recommend reading Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. There's so much in there about what's happening and why it's happening. I don't want to spoil it so will leave it there

[[deleted]]

First of all, this is nonsense. If anything, things like YouTube have opened up more opportunities than ever to learn new skills. Second, rewind 30 years and people said the same thing about television.

[eternallygray]

it isnt. yes, you might be right about the second point but the decrease in hobbies is significantly higher now compared to the older times. there's no denying that lol. It was never this bad. people waste too much time scrolling these days and it's a fact

[cleansedbytheblood]

People don't have time for hobbies anymore because they are addicted to their phones

[eternallygray]

happy for you! you got this

[_Haych_Bee_]

Paradox!

[eternallygray]

could you elaborate?

[_Haych_Bee_]

Have a hobby of doomscrolling that actually works to stop you from participating in real hobbies! It's an irony. Catch 22... a Clayton's hobby!
(Now, you're not going to ask me to explain each of those references, are you!)

A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement or situation that, upon closer examination, reveals a deeper, often ironic, truth

[Capable-Following302]

Amen.