Nearly 10% of young American adults, aged 23 to 29, reported having zero face-to-face interactions on an average day in 2023, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Financial Times. This figure represents a significant increase from 3% in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trend appears to be a lingering effect of pandemic-related restrictions that kept many young people indoors during formative years for social skill development. By late 2021, as restrictions eased, the percentage of young adults reporting no daily in-person contact had risen to nearly 9%, peaking at 10% in 2023. While the figure saw a slight decrease in 2024 and 2025, it remains substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The data, drawn from the American Time Use Survey, indicates a divergence in social habits post-pandemic. While the most socially connected segment of young adults saw their daily time spent with others rebound to 83% in 2025, from a low of 78% during pandemic restrictions (compared to 87% in 2019), the most isolated segment has not recovered. This latter group, who previously spent roughly a third of their day with others, saw that figure collapse to near zero during the pandemic and it has remained there.
In parallel, Americans are spending more time on screens. Daily time spent on computers and social media has increased from 25 minutes a decade ago to 37 minutes in 2025. Teenagers are the heaviest users, averaging 90 minutes per day on screens.
Furthermore, the survey found that over a third (35%) of employed individuals reported working from home, either partially or fully, in 2025, more than three years after COVID-19 restrictions began to lift. This continued prevalence of remote work may contribute to the sustained decrease in face-to-face interactions for many young adults.