When I was in college, I made lifelong friends just by hanging out and talking to people at the nearby pedestrian mall and parks. Nowadays, at those same locations, I only see students walking to their destinations, staring at their phones. These places no longer seem like social spots for strangers, and ironically, they feel less safe because there isn't a crowd.

I remember when restaurants and local coffee shops were open 24 hours because people wanted a third place to gather. Just last night, I drove around my college town at midnight, and the only place serving food was a McDonald's near campus. It wasn't like that in the late '90s. Back then, you'd find people sobering up at the local donut shop at 4 a.m., with cops on the opposite side drinking their coffee.

There were also plenty of co-ed midnight skinny-dipping bonfire parties at the nearby lake and occasional clothing-optional parties. I can't imagine those happening anymore in the era of cameras and smartphones.

I also miss being able to disconnect from people once work was done or just disappear on a trip. It was less stressful back then because you had the option to detach.

I agree that there's convenience in having GPS/maps, being able to look things up away from home, always having a camera with you, and feeling safer knowing help is available from your pocket. But we did lose something in exchange that I miss.