July 2026

Digital communication is weakening social connection, as a recent study found that people spoke fewer words a day in 2019 than in 2005.

Solo dining is on the rise as more people embrace eating alone as a way to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and enjoy the experience without distractions.

Communities across the country are finding connection and belonging through local gatherings, from festivals and concerts to book clubs, car cruises, and volunteer projects.

An evolutionary psychologist argues that declining childhood independence and school pressures —not smartphones— are the real driver of the youth mental health crisis.