The share of young Americans who regularly socialize with their neighbors has plummeted from 51% in 2012 to just 25% today, according to a new report by the American Enterprise Institute. The steep decline among the youngest cohort far outpaces the national trend, where 59% of all adults chatted with neighbors a few times per week in 2012 versus 41% in 2025.
Researchers attribute the trend partly to technology. Daniel Cox, director of AEI's Survey Center on American Life and the report's lead researcher, told Axios that homes today offer endless digital engagement, reducing the restlessness that once pushed people outdoors to connect face-to-face. Seniors have seen a milder decline, with 56% still regularly interacting with neighbors — a seven-point drop since 2012.
The erosion of neighborly contact carries consequences beyond loneliness. Without casual, serendipitous encounters with people of different races, religions or political views, Americans become more dependent on algorithm-driven digital communities that can reinforce ideological bubbles and superficial connections.
The findings suggest that reversing this trend will require deliberate efforts to rebuild local social infrastructure. Parks, community centers and block parties may play a role, but researchers argue that cultural shifts — not just physical spaces — are needed to rekindle spontaneous neighborly interactions.
Some sociologists caution that the survey's definition of 'regular engagement' may not capture newer forms of neighborly connection, such as neighborhood social media groups that organize offline meetups.