We’re not dancing like no one is watching anymore. Actually, we’re just not dancing—or talking, walking, or interacting anymore

In the past, multi-generational households were common, with older adults caring for younger generations while the latter worked. This tradition persisted throughout the Middle Ages and into the 1920s immigrant diaspora. However, in 2026, the concept of a "village" has vanished, as people are now avoiding interactions with their neighbors.

A recent report titled "Strangers Next Door" by Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute, reveals that only 40% of Americans talk to their neighbors regularly, down from nearly 60% in 2012. Among young adults, personal contact with neighbors has dropped from 51% to about one in four over the past decade, the most significant decline of any age group.

Older adults, however, still converse with neighbors weekly, though this number has only decreased by seven points.

Cox attributes the decline to a lack of socializing, which leads to fewer interactions and makes society more home-bound and reclusive. People avoid leaving their comfort zones, fearing they might do something silly or look foolish, knowing that everyone has a recording device in their pocket. This fear of being seen in public has led to a steady erosion of the interactions that once connected communities.

Young people are less comfortable asking for help from neighbors than older generations. For instance, only 36% of young adults would feel comfortable asking a neighbor for a spare set of keys, compared to 60% of older adults. Fewer than four in ten parents without a college degree would feel comfortable asking a neighbor to watch their child in an emergency, while a majority of college-educated parents would.

Several factors contribute to this societal shift. First, the convenience of apps has replaced small transactions and errands, eliminating the need for face-to-face interactions. Second, the fear of being recorded and shared online adds exposure to even minor missteps, deterring people from engaging with their neighbors. Lastly, the way children are raised plays a significant role.

Younger Americans are more likely to view themselves as exceptional, while their parents described them as average. This shift, combined with smaller families, competitive college admissions, and enrichment activities focused on the individual, creates a skewed sense of self and matters. Trust in neighbors is closely tied to education – 81% of college graduates trust their neighbors, compared to 64% of those with a high school education or less.

Homeowners also exhibit more trust than renters, and people in detached houses report more trust than those in apartments. This lack of trust and rootedness results in fewer parents feeling comfortable asking neighbors for help in emergencies.