{
  "id": 18111586,
  "title": "What We Lost When Errands Went Online",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/what-we-lost-when-errands-went-online",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T11:00:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Time",
    "slug": "time",
    "url": "https://time.com/article/2026/11/04/what-we-lost-when-errands-went-online/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I recently tasted something that reminded me of the cherry-flavored lollipops once given by my local bank to children accompanying their parents on errands. Indulging the candy was a treat amidst ordinary chores, but now, in my high-tech adulthood, these errands are conducted from the comfort of my home. I can handle banking through an app, order groceries and almost anything else, and even attend video stores and photo labs have disappeared with the advent of camera phones and streaming services. While I appreciate the convenience, I can't help but feel like I'm missing something beyond that treacly lollipop.\n\nErrands may have been burdensome, but they provided a reason to leave the house. Without the obligation to go places, it's easy to spend entire days alone, toggling between bill payments, videos, and scrolling on my phone, inadvertently distancing myself from the world and its people. Even the pleasures accompanying errands—like gourmet coffee or fast-food combos—can now be ordered ahead or dropped off. Some advanced tech options let us complete errands from anywhere, while others require our presence. Missed grocery deliveries mean warm yogurt or potential theft. However, nonperishable deliveries, delivered through a doorbell camera, allow us to avoid going to the door to greet a stranger. While these substitutes may be more convenient, they don't always provide a better experience. Many meals don't travel well, and even the most reliable personal shopper might not select the same fruits you would have chosen. For those who rely on deliveries, what was once a series of social interactions has transformed into a series of one-tap transactions, potentially altering how we perceive others: no longer as human beings sharing a space, but as hired servants in a world crafted exclusively for us.\n\nDr. Gillian Sandstrom, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Sussex and author of \"Once Upon a Stranger,\" suggests that such interactions provide a sense of control and individuality. Research indicates that individuals with a diverse range of encounters—be it a polite nod, a brief conversation with a clerk, or a deep chat with a friend—typically experience greater happiness. However, like everything else, many of these small social interactions have also gone online. While it's gratifying to scroll through TikTok or Instagram and see hundreds of strangers, these interactions lack the depth of face-to-face encounters. They're curated feeds that cater solely to my preferences, and unless I also produce content, they don't see me as anything more than a metric: a like or a view. While parasocial relationships with influencers or podcast hosts may offer some value, the socialization remains one-sided.\n\nMoreover, outings offer a chance to practice our interactions with the world. As they're called \"social skills,\" Sandstrom explains, \"How are you going to make a new friend? How are you going to go to a job interview?\" She argues that the loss of these little opportunities to practice hampers our socialization. The smartphone, while facilitating better communication with real-life friends, has also altered the nature of these interactions. Texting offers a continuous drip of connection throughout the day, maintaining a sense of socialization without providing the full experience of hearing someone's voice or observing their body language. Virtual hangouts, much like grocery deliveries, are often just about right—good enough but still somewhat disappointing.\n\nErrands were a time for deeper socializing. They served as de facto \"third places\" where individuals could catch up with friends who happened to be doing the same chores or bored at home and decided to join. However, with the rise of delivery and online ordering, many coffee shops and fast casual restaurants now primarily serve mobile customers. In-person customers often take a back seat to virtual ones. Some commercial restaurant spaces have been converted into ghost kitchens, serving only online orders. This shift has left many storefronts empty, transforming the bustling main streets of towns into areas of desolation. High urban rents and an increasingly isolated population have made the business model for third places challenging to sustain. The establishments that remain are often tailored for those who aren't physically present, leaving the in-person customer feeling secondary to the virtual one. Now, the in-person customer sometimes becomes a virtual one, as businesses encourage visitors to order from digital kiosks. Some restaurants have even replaced physical dining areas with ghost kitchens that exclusively cater to online orders. While errands may have been boring, I now find myself missing the excitement and novelty that once accompanied these tasks. Even while watching TV or movies, I feel like there's no escape from a phone-centric life. The two-screen experience, while distracting, can sometimes make me question what else I could be doing with my time.",
  "summary": "Yes, errands were boring. But I’m not less bored now, I’m just bored in a different way, writes Gabe Bullard.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}