Melissa

@melissa_lord

tweetless twix

Sydney, Australia

Joined September 2009

237 Following

52 Followers

100 Posts

melissa_lord retweeted

over 1 year ago

I wrote the cover story of the February issue of The Atlantic. It builds on a lot of reporting I did throughout 2024, and I'm really proud of it. It’s called: THE ANTI-SOCIAL CENTURY The thesis: Rising solitude is the most important social fact in American life today. The historic amounts of time that Americans spend alone and in their homes is reshaping the consumer economy—from dining to entertainment to delivery—warping our politics, alienating us from the realities of our neighbors and villages, and changing our very personalities. Here are the basic facts: 1. In the last few years, in-person socialization has declined, for every demographic group, to its lowest point on record 2. The typical American is now alone more than in any period where we have decent data, going back to at least 1965 3. Americans now spend an extra 99 minutes in their homes compared to 2003—a trend that crept up slowly before the pandemic, before exploding and remaining at a seriously elevated level. As Princeton’s Patrick Sharkey wrote in a 2024 paper, the homebound trend isn't just about remote work. Homebound life has “risen for every subset of the population and for virtually all activities” from eating to praying. 4. America's social depression is far-reaching. The share of adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The share of boys and girls who say they meet up with friends almost daily outside school hours has declined by nearly 50%. I don’t think these trends are simple. In many cases, they’re not even simply bad. (Ordering delivery: totally fine! Eating more meals alone, year after year after year: not so great!) But to see these trends—and their effects on American society—more clearly, I thought this phenomenon needed an anchoring, a naming, a media artifact for people to talk about, even if only to point out that I’m wrong. So, I wrote this.

DKThomp's tweet photo. I wrote the cover story of the February issue of The Atlantic. It builds on a lot of reporting I did throughout 2024, and I'm really proud of it.

It’s called: THE ANTI-SOCIAL CENTURY

The thesis: Rising solitude is the most important social fact in American life today. The historic amounts of time that Americans spend alone and in their homes is reshaping the consumer economy—from dining to entertainment to delivery—warping our politics, alienating us from the realities of our neighbors and villages, and changing our very personalities.

Here are the basic facts:

1. In the last few years, in-person socialization has declined, for every demographic group, to its lowest point on record

2. The typical American is now alone more than in any period where we have decent data, going back to at least 1965

3. Americans now spend an extra 99 minutes in their homes compared to 2003—a trend that crept up slowly before the pandemic, before exploding and remaining at a seriously elevated level. As Princeton’s Patrick Sharkey wrote in a 2024 paper, the homebound trend isn't just about remote work. Homebound life has “risen for every subset of the population and for virtually all activities” from eating to praying.

4. America's social depression is far-reaching. The share of adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The share of boys and girls who say they meet up with friends almost daily outside school hours has declined by nearly 50%.

I don’t think these trends are simple. In many cases, they’re not even simply bad. (Ordering delivery: totally fine! Eating more meals alone, year after year after year: not so great!) But to see these trends—and their effects on American society—more clearly, I thought this phenomenon needed an anchoring, a naming, a media artifact for people to talk about, even if only to point out that I’m wrong. So, I wrote this.

DKThomp's tweet photo. I wrote the cover story of the February issue of The Atlantic. It builds on a lot of reporting I did throughout 2024, and I'm really proud of it.

It’s called: THE ANTI-SOCIAL CENTURY

The thesis: Rising solitude is the most important social fact in American life today. The historic amounts of time that Americans spend alone and in their homes is reshaping the consumer economy—from dining to entertainment to delivery—warping our politics, alienating us from the realities of our neighbors and villages, and changing our very personalities.

Here are the basic facts:

1. In the last few years, in-person socialization has declined, for every demographic group, to its lowest point on record

2. The typical American is now alone more than in any period where we have decent data, going back to at least 1965

3. Americans now spend an extra 99 minutes in their homes compared to 2003—a trend that crept up slowly before the pandemic, before exploding and remaining at a seriously elevated level. As Princeton’s Patrick Sharkey wrote in a 2024 paper, the homebound trend isn't just about remote work. Homebound life has “risen for every subset of the population and for virtually all activities” from eating to praying.

4. America's social depression is far-reaching. The share of adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The share of boys and girls who say they meet up with friends almost daily outside school hours has declined by nearly 50%.

I don’t think these trends are simple. In many cases, they’re not even simply bad. (Ordering delivery: totally fine! Eating more meals alone, year after year after year: not so great!) But to see these trends—and their effects on American society—more clearly, I thought this phenomenon needed an anchoring, a naming, a media artifact for people to talk about, even if only to point out that I’m wrong. So, I wrote this.

DKThomp's tweet photo. I wrote the cover story of the February issue of The Atlantic. It builds on a lot of reporting I did throughout 2024, and I'm really proud of it.

It’s called: THE ANTI-SOCIAL CENTURY

The thesis: Rising solitude is the most important social fact in American life today. The historic amounts of time that Americans spend alone and in their homes is reshaping the consumer economy—from dining to entertainment to delivery—warping our politics, alienating us from the realities of our neighbors and villages, and changing our very personalities.

Here are the basic facts:

1. In the last few years, in-person socialization has declined, for every demographic group, to its lowest point on record

2. The typical American is now alone more than in any period where we have decent data, going back to at least 1965

3. Americans now spend an extra 99 minutes in their homes compared to 2003—a trend that crept up slowly before the pandemic, before exploding and remaining at a seriously elevated level. As Princeton’s Patrick Sharkey wrote in a 2024 paper, the homebound trend isn't just about remote work. Homebound life has “risen for every subset of the population and for virtually all activities” from eating to praying.

4. America's social depression is far-reaching. The share of adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The share of boys and girls who say they meet up with friends almost daily outside school hours has declined by nearly 50%.

I don’t think these trends are simple. In many cases, they’re not even simply bad. (Ordering delivery: totally fine! Eating more meals alone, year after year after year: not so great!) But to see these trends—and their effects on American society—more clearly, I thought this phenomenon needed an anchoring, a naming, a media artifact for people to talk about, even if only to point out that I’m wrong. So, I wrote this.

DKThomp's tweet photo. I wrote the cover story of the February issue of The Atlantic. It builds on a lot of reporting I did throughout 2024, and I'm really proud of it.

It’s called: THE ANTI-SOCIAL CENTURY

The thesis: Rising solitude is the most important social fact in American life today. The historic amounts of time that Americans spend alone and in their homes is reshaping the consumer economy—from dining to entertainment to delivery—warping our politics, alienating us from the realities of our neighbors and villages, and changing our very personalities.

Here are the basic facts:

1. In the last few years, in-person socialization has declined, for every demographic group, to its lowest point on record

2. The typical American is now alone more than in any period where we have decent data, going back to at least 1965

3. Americans now spend an extra 99 minutes in their homes compared to 2003—a trend that crept up slowly before the pandemic, before exploding and remaining at a seriously elevated level. As Princeton’s Patrick Sharkey wrote in a 2024 paper, the homebound trend isn't just about remote work. Homebound life has “risen for every subset of the population and for virtually all activities” from eating to praying.

4. America's social depression is far-reaching. The share of adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30% in the past 20 years. The share of boys and girls who say they meet up with friends almost daily outside school hours has declined by nearly 50%.

I don’t think these trends are simple. In many cases, they’re not even simply bad. (Ordering delivery: totally fine! Eating more meals alone, year after year after year: not so great!) But to see these trends—and their effects on American society—more clearly, I thought this phenomenon needed an anchoring, a naming, a media artifact for people to talk about, even if only to point out that I’m wrong. So, I wrote this.

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melissa_lord retweeted

Peter Gould @gould_peter

over 2 years ago

I hope they didn’t include fraction questions on the citizen test.

$gould_peter's tweet photo. I hope they didn’t include fraction questions on the citizen test. https://t.co/S2upD4asIQ$

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 2 years ago

This looks fun for team-building…!

Jonathan Alsheimer

over 2 years ago

Teachers as you head back into school here’s an activity for you. “Tower of Terror” cup activity is perfect to jumpstart the new year in the classroom allow you to continue to build those relationships with kids and the climate and culture you WANT 🙌❤️ Let’s go!

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 2 years ago

#FoodForThought #HeartbreakingTruths

Ben McPherson MCCT @bennymacp

over 2 years ago

If only it weren’t so true…@MichaelRosenYes #educate

bennymacp's tweet photo. If only it weren’t so true…@MichaelRosenYes #educate https://t.co/JkyaPEexBF

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Melissa @melissa_lord

almost 3 years ago

REFERENDUM DAY… If you’re unsure… maybe google it or watch this… https://t.co/wN1XU5Xg8O We’re living in NO & it’s not working… Also, if you’re in my area, democracy sausages & cake stall offerings are available at Charlie’s school (I’m serving 12-2 if you want to say hi)

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 3 years ago

@Alex_T_Smith @HachetteKids @Arenatweet Is book 5 in the works? Inquiring minds, including a very keen 7yo, eagerly wish to know…

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 3 years ago

@itsF1SKY I have a language of the week and we each greet the next person on the roll with it

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 3 years ago

If they only listened to their employees before they spent money in the wrong places…

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 3 years ago · Sydney

Off adventuring…! @ Cityrail https://t.co/AB7Ru0KJwF

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 3 years ago · Sydney

🥳 Celebration Week @ #paws 🌈 @pawsstudios @ PAWS Performance Art Western Sydney https://t.co/3oLZc4MDsV

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Melissa @melissa_lord

almost 4 years ago

The word of the day, especially pertinent for teachers…

almost 4 years ago

Word of the day is ‘dumfungled’ (19th century): wearied, befuddled, and just a little used up.

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Melissa @melissa_lord

almost 4 years ago

Please donate or share Charlie’s colour run page! https://t.co/nHaw4fV0D1 #

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melissa_lord retweeted

Denis - The COVID info guy - @BigBadDenis

about 4 years ago

COVID stats for Australia #COVID19Aus

BigBadDenis's tweet photo. COVID stats for Australia

#COVID19Aus https://t.co/xTlrMLv8AT

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Melissa @melissa_lord

about 4 years ago

Health needs an overhaul, along with education & most public service… #MoreThanThanks

Prof Tom John @TommyJohn00

about 4 years ago

I just bumped into an old mate that runs a restaurant. You must’ve had a tough few years with COVID? Nope, the gvt gave us a lot of $$ and now business is back strong. It’s been good. What about you? He asked. 1/4

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melissa_lord retweeted

Adam Hills @adamhillscomedy

over 4 years ago

Sometimes I love Twitter.

adamhillscomedy's tweet photo. Sometimes I love Twitter. https://t.co/UiHpBpwfu2

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 4 years ago

Just posted a photo https://t.co/bKPcQxcVr9

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 4 years ago · Sydney

And… Friday…! @ Emu Hall https://t.co/0Z08pY6WaQ

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 4 years ago

#morethanthanks https://t.co/Gd5ZAVG9mK

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Melissa @melissa_lord

over 4 years ago

#MoreThanThanks

Teachers Federation

over 4 years ago

This is why we must act. Walk out next Wednesday (May 4) to make the government wake up on workloads. #MoreThanThanks

TeachersFed's tweet photo. This is why we must act. Walk out next Wednesday (May 4) to make the government wake up on workloads. #MoreThanThanks https://t.co/qY2VCcWMZj

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