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Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios
Americans are spending less time socializing than they did 20 years ago — and the trend cuts across every generation, Axios’ Erica Pandey writes from the new American Time Use Survey.
Why it matters: Our growing isolation is a fundamental shift in the way we live with implications for everything from what we believe to how long we live.
By the numbers: Average time spent socializing per day has fallen from 45 to 35 minutes over the last 20 years.
The decline is steepest among young people: 15- to 24-year-olds went from spending an hour a day hanging out with others to 35 minutes.
Between the lines: Sociologists and psychologists point to several trends driving this phenomenon in what Substack writer Derek Thompson dubbed “The Anti-Social Century.”
We’re all on our smartphones, often interacting through screens instead of face-to-face. Teens spend an average of 4.8 hours a day on apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, according to Gallup.
The shift to remote work — and life — during the pandemic has persisted.
Longer-term trends are reshaping daily life in ways that make retreat easier. Homes are bigger and more comfortable, with larger TVs. Most restaurants are on food delivery apps, making it easier than ever to stay in.
What to watch: Also contributing to the trend is the decline of gathering spaces, Axios’ Avery Lotz writes.
In a 2025 report, University of Colorado Boulder researchers uncovered widespread closures of all kinds of hangout spots — from libraries to coffee shops to museums — in the last decade or so.
Churches are also shuttering at unprecedented rates, Axios’ Russell Contreras reports.
Cultivating healthy self-esteem in early childhood can start with a simple nighttime routine. Encouraging toddlers to reflect on their small daily wins helps them focus on their own efforts and builds intrinsic motivation, rather than relying on constant praise. Child psychologists suggest that this habit strengthens the brain pathways linked to self-worth and emotional resilience. When children regularly recognize their own value, they become better prepared to handle academic challenges and social situations as they grow. This calm reflection at bedtime also helps the body unwind after a busy day, supporting deeper sleep and a more balanced emotional state the next morning. Over time, children begin to internalize their achievements, turning everyday moments into lasting confidence. They learn to self-soothe and approach challenges with a steady, positive mindset. Creating these small, intentional moments each night is a powerful way to support lifelong emotional strength and self-belief.
Does America still believe what its founding fathers did? Who were all children of European migrants, by the way. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The United States Declaration Of Independence
There has been only one true global economic depression since 1929: the Great Depression. However, macroeconomic historians also recognize several major regional depressions and severe global recessions. World Bank Group +3
Here is the chronological list of the most severe economic crises since 1929:
The Great Depression (1929–1939): Triggered by the Wall Street Crash, this is the longest and most severe depression in modern history. It resulted in global GDP declining by an estimated 15% between 1929 and 1932. Wikipedia +3
The Recession of 1937–1938: An intense economic contraction within the Great Depression era caused by premature tightening of monetary and fiscal policies. Wikipedia +4
The Great Recession (2007–2009): While classified as a recession, the 2008 financial crisis was the most synchronized and deepest global downturn since 1929, resulting in the worst global economic conditions since the Great Depression. World Bank Group +2
COVID-19 Recession (2020): While relatively brief, pandemic-related shutdowns caused a sudden, drastic contraction in the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated it was the steepest global downturn since the Great Depression. nlb.sg
In addition to these, there have been notable regional depressions, such as the Great Depression in the Nordic countries (1990s) and the Greek Depression (2009–2018) following the European debt crisis.
If you want, I can:
Detail the causes and recovery periods for any of these events
Provide data on unemployment and stock market declines
Compare the policy responses of the 1930s versus 2008
Let me know how you’d like to explore this history.
The man who predicted the dot-com crash and the 2007 housing collapse warns that the AI bubble is the biggest in American history. Billionaire investor Jeremy Grantham reveals why it will burst, the exact strategy to protect your money, and why house prices need to fall 30%. Jeremy Grantham is the co-founder of GMO, an institutional investment firm in Boston, and serves as the firm’s long-term investment strategist. He is also the chairman of the Grantham Foundation For the Preservation of the Environment, and co-author of “The Making of a Permabear: The Perils of Long-term Investing in a Short-term World”. Jeremy Grantham’s comments are all his personal opinions and not the opinions of GMO.
He explains: ◼ Why Wall Street will never warn you when to get out of the market, and what to do instead ◼ The exact portfolio Jeremy recommends to protect your money before the crash ◼ What everyday chemicals in your food and cosmetics are doing to your fertility ◼ Why house prices need to fall 30%, and what it means for your finances ◼ Why the AI boom won’t automatically lead to higher profits, and what to buy instead 00:00:00 Who Is Jeremy Grantham? 00:02:54 Will AI Become The Next Financial Bubble? 00:06:57 How Jeremy Grantham Built An Investing Empire 00:08:04 The Most Money He’s Ever Managed 00:08:29 Are You A Billionaire? 00:09:18 What Happens When The AI Bubble Bursts? 00:11:35 How AI Will Change Everyday Life 00:12:53 The Investing Strategy For Right Now 00:18:12 Why You Should Avoid US Stocks 00:20:13 Why Investment Advisors Mislead Clients 00:26:09 Advice For Entrepreneurs Right Now 00:28:59 The Real Risks Of AI 00:29:58 Should AI Have A Maternal Instinct? 00:34:44 What Happens If AI Lacks Benevolence? 00:36:21 The Battle Between The Magnificent 7 00:39:48 Ads 00:41:57 Which Jobs AI Will Replace First 00:44:18 Will SpaceX Eventually Fail? 00:50:30 Should You Invest In SpaceX? 00:50:40 The Most Valuable Skill For The Future 00:51:41 Is Society Declining And What Comes Next? 00:54:02 What History Says About Wealth Inequality 00:56:36 Should The Rich Pay More Tax? 00:57:59 How To Build Wealth In Your 30s Today 01:00:08 How To Invest Your Salary Wisely 01:02:58 Should You Own Crypto? 01:03:51 Will Bitcoin Eventually Go To Zero? 01:04:05 Is Property Still A Good Investment? 01:05:15 Ads 01:07:27 What’s Really Causing The Baby Bust? 01:11:28 When Could Sperm Counts Reach Zero? 01:14:24 How Microplastics Affect Fertility 01:16:42 How Pesticides Impact Fertility 01:21:43 How To Reduce Toxic Chemical Exposure 01:22:54 Why US Products Are More Toxic 01:27:30 How To Stay Healthy In A Toxic World 01:33:54 The Most Important Thing We Missed 01:35:34 Should You Move Countries Right Now? 01:35:55 The Flaw That Destroys Societies 01:39:22 The Best Places To Live Today 01:40:40 What Would You Do If Failure Was Impossible? You can purchase ‘The Making of a Permabear: The Perils of Long-term Investing in a Short-term World’, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/8zyh6RB The Diary Of A CEO: ◼ Join DOAC circle here – https://doaccircle.com/ ◼ Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here – https://smarturl.it/DOACbook ◼ The 1% Diary is back – limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt ◼ The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: https://linkly.link/2hm7r ◼ Get email updates – https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt ◼ Follow Steven – https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb Sponsors: Stan – https://coach.stan.store/?ref=stevenb… Pipedrive – https://pipedrive.com/CEO HeyGen – https://heygen.com/doac
39 apartments 2 blocks built dublin 4 1970s, upgrade at request of fire chief, asbestos located so we needed special contractors. How much should this cost? Is there any grant from govt
Thoughts
No government grants are available for this specific situation.
citizensinformation.ie The main Irish schemes for apartment/duplex fire safety remediation (the Interim Remediation Scheme and the forthcoming statutory Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Scheme) apply only to buildings constructed between 1991 and 2013. These fund emergency or full remediation of fire safety (and sometimes structural/water ingress) defects linked to construction issues from that era. Your 1970s blocks fall outside this window, so they do not qualify.
gov.ie There is no dedicated national grant for fire safety upgrades in pre-1991 apartment blocks. Asbestos removal also has no specific standalone grant for occupied residential properties or apartment common areas. Limited indirect options exist in other schemes (e.g., Croí Cónaithe vacant property grants can cover hazardous material removal as part of broader refurbishment of vacant/derelict homes, or certain local authority Housing Aid for Older People/Disabled Persons Grants for individual qualifying homes), but these are unlikely to apply to a multi-unit block upgrade or common-area works.
asbestos.ie You (or the Owners’ Management Company/OMC) will almost certainly bear the full cost. Check with Dublin City Council or the Housing Agency for any very localised or discretionary supports, but none are standard for this scenario.
Cost Estimate. Precise costing is impossible without details such as:
Number of storeys/floors per block
Exact scope of works required by the fire chief (e.g., fire doors, compartmentation/fire stopping, alarms, emergency lighting, escape routes, signage)
Extent, type, and location of asbestos (common areas like ceilings, pipes, floors vs. individual apartments; whether it is bonded or friable)
Access, phasing, and any need for temporary relocation or out-of-hours work
Rough ballpark for a 39-apartment, 2-block complex in Dublin (2026 prices, including VAT, fees, and contingencies): €300,000 – €1,000,000+ total (roughly €8,000 – €25,000+ per apartment on average, though costs are often front-loaded on common areas).
rte.ie Breakdown of typical components
Fire safety upgrade works(compartmentation, fire doors/closers/seals, fire stopping, alarms/detection, emergency lighting, etc.): €5,000–€20,000+ per apartment equivalent.
Real-world examples include ~€11,000 per unit in one 41-unit tender for fire remediation and averages of €9,000–€25,000 per unit (indexed) in broader defect remediation reports for comparable-scale works. ted.europa.eu
Asbestos survey + licensed removal/encapsulation + disposal + clearance testing: Highly variable. Surveys €300–€550. Removal can range from hundreds of euros for small localised jobs to tens of thousands (or more) for common areas across two blocks (e.g., ceilings/pipe lagging per room or linear metre). Licensed HSA-permitted contractors are mandatory for notifiable work; expect premiums for containment, air monitoring, and hazardous waste handling. kollect.ie
Professional fees (fire safety engineer/competent professional, project management, asbestos surveyor, QS, etc.): 10–20%+ of works cost.
Other: VAT (typically 13.5% or 23%), contingencies, possible temporary works or resident disruption costs.
These are indicative ranges based on published tenders, defect remediation reports, and contractor guidance for similar Irish apartment work. High-profile cases have seen much higher per-unit costs (€15m+ for larger complexes or outliers near €68k/unit), while simpler upgrades can be lower. Your project will likely sit somewhere in the middle but will be inflated by the asbestos requirement (specialist contractors, safe working methods, possible phased or contained works).
irishtimes.com Next Steps
Confirm exact requirements — Contact the fire chief/Dublin Fire Brigade in writing for a clear list of required works (they may issue a formal notice under the Fire Services Acts).
Appoint professionals:
A competent fire safety professional/engineer (to produce a Fire Safety Risk Assessment and specification).
A licensed asbestos surveyor for a Refurbishment/Demolition Asbestos Survey (RDAS) before any intrusive works.
Get competitive quotes from HSA-licensed asbestos removal contractors and specialist fire protection firms. Coordinate them carefully (asbestos must be safely managed before or alongside fire works).
If an OMC exists — It typically manages common areas and can organise levies, procurement, and applications. Individual owners usually share costs via service charges/sinking fund.
Budget and timeline — Factor in potential disruption, possible need for alternative accommodation in affected areas, and compliance/certification costs.
Seek advice — Consult a solicitor or property management expert familiar with multi-unit developments, and consider a quantity surveyor for accurate costing.
Important safety note: Do not disturb suspected asbestos. Stop works if needed and engage licensed specialists immediately. Non-compliant handling is illegal and dangerous.Costs can vary significantly by exact scope and site conditions—the only reliable figure comes from site-specific surveys and multiple detailed quotes. Start with the professionals and fire authority to narrow it down. If you provide more details (e.g., number of floors, photos of affected areas, or the exact works requested), I can help refine this further.
By the numbers: Average time spent socializing per day has fallen from 45 to 35 minutes over the last 20 years.
What to watch: Also contributing to the trend is the decline of gathering spaces, Axios’ Avery Lotz 
World Bank Group +3
Wikipedia +3
Wikipedia +4
World Bank Group +2
nlb.sg
