Even College Students Have Stopped Hanging Out
Data indicates that college students are spending significantly less time socializing and partying compared to previous generations. This trend toward isolation is contributing to higher reported rates of loneliness on university campuses.
Why it matters
The decline in face-to-face social interaction among young adults has significant implications for mental health and the traditional college experience.
Carlos de Andres / Getty August 17, 2026, 10:28 AM ET Share Save If anyone were to be immune to America’s loneliness epidemic, it would be college students. For years, Americans have been going to fewer parties and spending more time alone. But college has historically been about socializing—or, let’s just say it, partying—as much as it has been about education. It’s where young people escape parental supervision, move in with roommates, and encounter thousands of potential new friends.
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