Meals Together Plummet, Threatening Well-being
Young Adults Eat Alone at Alarming Rate
Americans are dining solo far more than ever, with shared meals becoming a rarity. The 2025 World Happiness Report highlights that the ideal number of weekly meals with others is 13, yet Americans are only sharing 7.9.
Dismal Trend Hits Young Americans Hardest
New research reveals a stark reality for young adults. A 2023 survey found that a quarter of 18-to-24-year-olds consumed all three daily meals alone. This represents a near doubling of the figure from two decades prior.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Oxford and an editor of the report, notes that this isolation significantly impacts mental health. He states that the frequency of shared meals is “as predictive of their life satisfaction, essentially their overall well-being” as employment or income.
Smartphones Diverting Attention from Real-World Connections
Experts point to a confluence of factors contributing to this disconnect. Social scientist Robert Putnam noted the rise in social isolation in his 2000 book, “Bowling Alone,” attributing it to shifts in work, family structures, and the influence of television and computers.
The proliferation of smartphones and social media over the last two decades has amplified this trend for younger generations. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey indicates that 98% of 18-to-29-year-olds own a smartphone.
De Neve believes these devices “are distracting us from other human beings in the room.” He adds they can also serve “as an excuse to not have to talk to people.” Vivek Murthy, former U.S. surgeon general, observed on a recent college tour that “the default now is that you do not speak to people when you go into a dining hall and you sit by yourself.”
Solutions for Rebuilding Social Connections
To counter this growing isolation, De Neve suggests practical strategies. Individually, he endorses the advice of Harvard Business School professor Arthur Brooks: designating a “phone box” in both the bedroom and kitchen to encourage presence and conversation.
On an institutional level, universities could implement policies like a “no-phone” table in dining halls. This encourages students to engage with those around them.
Societally, De Neve emphasizes the need to re-evaluate the role of social media companies. He calls for a collective effort to “put the ‘social’ back into social media,” urging platforms to foster genuine connection rather than isolation.
The impact of social isolation on mental health is a growing concern. A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports found a significant correlation between loneliness and increased risk of depression and anxiety among young adults.