Many people talk about feeling disconnected, but there are also new ways to build community through shared interests, volunteer groups, churches, and online connections.
Do you think communities today are generally stronger, weaker, or just different than they were 20 or 30 years ago?
t’s easy to look out the window today and feel a real sense of loss for how things used to be. There was a distinct comfort in knowing that if a kid was blocks away from home, a neighbor would spot them, look out for them, or send them home when the streetlights came on. That “village” mentality created a unique kind of freedom.
The shift we see now is massive, and it’s a mix of changing social habits and technological evolution. The Porch to back patio shift. Architectural and social trends over the last few decades shifted leisure from front porches to private backyards and indoor spaces. From “Hey Neighbor,” to “Hope they don’t come back here.” We are more connected to people miles away than ever before, but it often comes at the expense of knowing the person living twenty feet to our left.
It’s entirely true that technology has rewritten how kids spend their free time. Video games, social media, and streaming apps are literally engineered by teams of behavioral scientists to maximize engagement. It’s hard for a simple bike ride to compete with a digital world designed to give a continuous hit of dopamine. For kids, that tablet or console becomes their default playground because it’s where all their friends are gathering virtually.
Is the community entirely gone? While the classic “leave the front door unlocked” neighborhood feels like a relic of the past in many places, community hasn’t vanished entirely; it has just mutated. Today, neighbors often connect through digital spaces like local Facebook groups, neighborhood group chats, or apps like Nextdoor. It’s not quite the same as chatting over the backyard fence, but the desire for safety and connection is still there.
Many parents today are trying to find a middle ground, intentionally organizing block parties, neighborhood playdates, or establishing “tech-free” zones to force a bit of that old-school balance back into daily life. It takes a lot more deliberate effort now than it used to, but building those local roots is still possible.
Peter
It depends, really. I’ve heard of plenty of strong communities. But, I’ve also witnessed, in my own community, a lot of disconnect and toxic things happening.
A mix. Communities are definley less close knit than the were in the past. Internet is wholly to blame, and also most people live in bigger towns. My town is an example. Big and quickly growing.
But in some ways I believe some things have became stronger. I feel like churches focus on things beyond Sunday morning, and Church isn’t as high classy.
Hey @Josiah, just curious what you mean by this? I think I agree with you, but I’m not sure what your meaning is. “high classy.”
Peter
It goes either way. I’ve been to some great places and you never hear a word about them but they are vibrant , civilized, acting right , with jobs for almost most. And other communities close to hell, drug addicts, rampant crime, uncivilized actions and activities as normal. 
I think in this day and age we are smart enough to eradicate the hell cities and understand what it takes to make a first world with few problems
Church in the 1800s and 1900s you would be turned back if you wernt dressed to the nines, the sermon would be really long, the kids would be bored, the music would be hard to understand. Anyone dealing with deep issues may not find a place. Now churches focus more on welcoming everyone and helping people.
The church is a hospital, not a show off place
Well, we agree with all that. As long as the Church keeps the main thing the main thing.
Peter