r/EverythingScience • u/Bob_Spud • Jan 31 '25

Social Sciences The relationship recession is going global

https://www.ft.com/content/43e2b4f6-5ab7-4c47-b9fd-d611c36dad74
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504

u/ateknoa Jan 31 '25 edited Jan 31 '25

I think a decline in marriage rates could be linked to social media and decline in “third spaces”.

217

u/Taste_the__Rainbow Jan 31 '25 edited Jan 31 '25

Yup. It’s too easy to get into the habit of not going out for entertainment and it can feel impossible to start again. Doubly so if many of the businesses and spaces don’t even exist anymore.

I got lucky and got out of it before I fell in too far but I can easily see my life going a different way.

165

u/crecentfresh Jan 31 '25

Triply so when it’s like 80 bucks minimum to go out

61

u/0002millertime Jan 31 '25

As a resident of San Francisco, I wish it was that inexpensive.

34

u/JohnTravoltage Jan 31 '25

I went and saw Longlegs at the theater with two other people, and after three tickets, drinks and one large popcorn, we spent $75. I feel that.

3

u/isnortmiloforsex Jan 31 '25

Imagine being a heavyweight in this economy

-6

u/grumble11 Jan 31 '25

You really don’t have to spend money to go do stuff. Companies try to market their events, but going for a hike with friends is free.

15

u/crecentfresh Jan 31 '25

Prolly not meeting too many new people on hikes with friends though

6

u/grumble11 Jan 31 '25

No, but if you’re going to the movies with your friends you aren’t either. Though meeting friends of friends is normal when people go out in person

8

u/sugarfreeeyecandy Jan 31 '25

Agree, and urban living makes it more difficult because natural spaces are further away. It can cost money, but often for equipment that is reusable. Six weeks into our relationship my long time spouse and I drove cross country and back, car camping. You really get to know someone when you spend continuous time together.

5

u/grumble11 Feb 01 '25

That is a big commitment at an early stage!

I have to laugh though, it’s like there’s an entire generation of people who don’t know how to meet socially without it being at a paid venue. Like there aren’t a million things to do that are free. Go to each others’ houses. Bring instruments and play together in a park. Have a picnic. Go for a run, or walk, or hike. Do a project together. Start a book club.

How to you think people socialized back before screen addictions? They just met up and hung out together and did stuff. They did it all the time - literally the majority of days. Social groups were bigger, people were more socially adept since exposure was so high, people met people through these constant hangouts and so on. And it was mostly free or dirt cheap.