I’m beginning to think that we mayyyy be spending too much time on the internet. Maybe it’s time to touch grass again.
This graph I saw on TikTok last week from Derek Thompson (linked here) does a good job of showing how we’re spending a lot less time together in third spaces (social settings separate from your home or the workplace/school). I know I’ve always been an advocate for spending more time doomscrolling, but the trend line of this graph may indicate we’ve gone too far. Is there a way to correct course, or are we too far gone?
We’re Still Spending Money, Just More Selectively
After doing more research about this topic, I started to see a common trend in the comments about how people don’t have as much disposable income, but I actually don’t think that tells the full story. Consumers are actually spending more. Across income tiers, individuals are forgoing expensive international trips or buying big-ticket items to instead spend their money on things that don’t require them to leave their home or on experiences local to them.
The issue that I’m seeing is that third spaces don’t require people to actually spend money. It’s more about the act of getting outside of your home or workplace and spending quality time with people in real environments. Which is why I think that the future state of community seems like it’s no longer about church, board games, and hosting dinner parties. Where people are finding community is completely changing to online spaces like video games and Discord, as well as broader consumer experiences like concerts, comedy shows, and sports games.
Where Does the Internet Come Into Play?
It’s hard to ignore how much the internet has had an effect on how we’ve built communities over the last 30 years. We’ve gone from 8 percent of Americans using the internet at least once a year to 98 percent (shoutout to the 2 percent of people who are somehow able to stay disconnected). This is your sign to go to the park and have a picnic. Looks like we’re pretty cooked.
The Big Takeaway
The internet has completely changed how we build communities, and I don’t think we’ve fully figured out what we’ve lost in the process. People are still spending money and looking for experiences, but more of their time is being spent at home or in digital spaces instead of traditional third spaces. I don’t think the answer is to spend less time online, but we probably need to find a better balance between digital communities and real-world experiences.
If you enjoy reading Night Light each week, refer a friend and get some Night swag, including a personal video from me, an invite to our Discord, and I’ll even put your picture up on the walls of our office forever.
Everyone is playing a new Call of Duty clone called Hood Warfare 2 this week. With GTA VI on the horizon, we’re not surprised to see Hood Warfare 2 rise to the top of the Steam charts. At just $5.99, it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular shooters out there right now.
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