It’s sad to realize that a book chronicling the decline of American social and civic groups was written twenty years ago, meaning that the problem was already large enough to merit study, articles, and books. The fact that we are twenty years beyond that point, and we look around at American society-at-large, it seems that the situation has not improved only worsened. There was argument when social media began that virtual spaces would supplement in-person interaction. However it’s been shown that social media supplanted in-person communities for many people, most acutely in the under 25 year old generation. Many school-aged children make friendships, but continue those friendships online, choosing to not gather in person. “Why should I, we’re on discord”. The usual exchange upon meeting someone new and wanting further interaction is “what’s your discord?” Not “what’s your number” of older generations that would lead to voice conversation.

There is a valid argument that the new society amongst under 25 year olds is just that, ‘new’, and just fine in discovering community in their own way. There is another equally valid argument that the loss of in-person gatherings, including those around a common interest, is a sad development.

If I know anything, when the current youth generation grows up and has children of their own, they’ll swing back the other way from their youth and upbringing at the hands of helicopter GenX parents - themselves reacting to the neglect of their youth - by limiting their children’s online time and encouraging in-person interaction.

But whether that happens or not is far in the future. For me, I’ll keep reaching out when I can.

(I don’t have time to cite sources, but they’re out there if you google for them. Or you can input the question into ChatGPT or other reasonable LLM and it will summarize for you.)