Have you ever noticed that, despite having hundreds of followers and being active in countless group chats, you might still feel disconnected? There’s often a missing piece in our everyday lives. Even when we’re not truly “lonely,” public places can still feel isolating.
Many college students know the feeling of being surrounded by people but lacking a real sense of community. Unfortunately, this feeling isn’t improving. In fact, our connection to society has been eroding little by little for years. Political scientists have a name for what’s disappearing: social capital.
I first encountered the concept of social capital in my Political Behavior class this semester. Suddenly, I had a name for something I’d observed countless times in everyday life but couldn’t quite articulate. Social capital refers to the relationships, trust, shared norms, and networks that enable people to communicate and support one another. It’s the value that emerges when people know their neighbors, join organizations, and volunteer. These connections make citizens feel rooted in their communities. Put simply, when people know, trust, and support each other, society runs smoothly.
The concept of social capital truly came to life for me through the famous Bowling Alone study. Political scientist Robert Putnam explored this idea in his book of the same name, observing that, while Americans continued to bowl, they stopped doing so in leagues. This shift reflected a larger trend: people were participating in activities alone rather than as part of organized groups.
Another example of declining social capital is the rise of passive TV watching and streaming. Instead of gathering at movie theaters, we now stream films at home, either alone or with a small group. Virtual socializing has also taken over, with many people spending hours chatting online or leaving comments on Instagram and TikTok from their couches.
Interestingly, the playing of card games, one of the most universal tools for connection, has been on a downward spiral as well. Sierra Sun estimated that in 2025, only half of the American population plays card games in person, with less than 10% doing so frequently.
According to Putnam, this trend represents a broader disengagement from civic life, community groups, churches, clubs, and neighborhood networks.
Several social changes may explain these trends. The first is generational replacement — the process by which older generations are succeeded by newer ones. Younger people, raised in different conditions, have been socialized into new sets of values. There are also major differences in voting habits. As technology and social patterns evolve, it’s become increasingly challenging for older politicians to connect with younger voters.
Technology, especially social media, can foster connections in some ways, but it’s ultimately replacing face-to-face interactions.
Urban sprawl is another major factor, marked by the rapid expansion of cities into rural areas with low-density, car-dependent, single-use housing. This kind of development encourages sedentary lifestyles and reduces neighborly interaction, as people are farther apart and stay in more often.
Longer working hours and the rise of two-income households also play a role. While stay-at-home parents were once common, today most families have both parents working, leaving less time for civic life. As a result, fewer people attend meetings, and voting days can often conflict with work schedules.
Family structures have also evolved, moving away from the traditional nuclear family. The percentage of adults living with a spouse and children has dropped from 67% in 1970 to just 37% today, according to Pew Research Center. There’s been a rise in cohabitation, single-parent households, delayed marriage, and more same-sex couples.
A final, everyday example is the rise of drive-thru culture. More people order ahead, use self-checkouts, and opt for drive-thrus instead of interacting in person. Society is actively finding ways to avoid social interaction in public spaces. This trend is also connected to the decline in “third spaces” — environments outside of home and work, like coffee shops, parks, libraries, and gyms, where people traditionally gather. Think of Central Perk from the show Friends: a place where friends congregate and connect. Today, even common third spaces are dwindling or changing. For example, some coffee shops now require purchases just to sit or use the restroom, making it harder to foster spontaneous community.
All of these seemingly small factors add up to a larger problem: they undermine the trust among citizens that’s essential for a functioning, cooperative society.
There are, of course, some exceptions. Online communities and viral movements can create brief moments of solidarity. However, these connections are often short-lived and selectively focused. Much of social media activism is performative and rarely produces the lasting change or awareness needed. In contrast, social capital requires long-term, genuine relationships that flourish best through in-person interactions.
The core issue, as I see it, is that we’re not putting ourselves out there as much as previous generations did. There’s a reason why your dad always chats with strangers in elevators, and why your older neighbor always stops to say hello: they grew up in a different social environment, without the influence of social media. Younger generations tend to stay within their circles, rarely talk to strangers, and don’t make the effort to branch out. If we weren’t so absorbed in our own lives and online worlds, we might interact with a broader range of people and gain fresh perspectives. Instead, we find ourselves stuck in echo chambers—both online and within our own routines.
So why does this matter, especially for college students? Universities might be one of the last environments where building social capital remains relatively easy. Clubs, campus events, volunteer groups, student organizations, and classrooms all offer chances to create meaningful connections and learn from peers. My advice? Show up, get involved, and make an effort. It’s the best way to fight the growing isolation in our world.
The decline of social capital may sound bleak, but it’s not inevitable. We can rebuild it, often by simply stepping outside and engaging with the world around us. In this digital age, authentic community is more valuable than ever.