Now I am in my mid-40s, and it has already been over 20 years since I graduated from UCLA.

I'm trying to enjoy my age, which is 'Over The Hill', in my own way. Life doesn't stop and keeps going, haha.

From 1999 to 2005, I remember the vibrant party culture in the LA area from my youth, and when I hear stories from the new hires at work or my nieces and nephews, I think, 'Wow, the world has really changed.' Recently, I was genuinely surprised to hear, "We hardly ever have birthday parties where we invite a lot of friends."

What do you mean, not having a party on the weekend?

Back in my day, whether it was a friend's birthday or just a casual Friday night, it was all about making an excuse to party.

Every Friday and Saturday, we would have house parties at a friend's or a friend's friend's house, go to Hollywood clubs or Korean town booking clubs, and attend rave parties from downtown to the valley. I thought it was a loss if I didn't go to Coachella, which happens every April with friends. Honestly, that was youth and a lot of fun, but today's 20-somethings are the complete opposite.

In fact, Ellen Cushing from 'The Atlantic' published an essay stating that "Americans need to party more," revealing shocking statistics. In 2023, only 4.1% of Americans attended or hosted a party or event on weekends or holidays. In other words, only 1 in 25 American households has plans for social gatherings.

And here's a more shocking fact. Over the past 20 years, the time Americans spend on social events has decreased by 50%, and especially among young people aged 15 to 24, the time spent on parties has decreased by a whopping 70%. This aligns with what I've been hearing about the younger generation.

So why is this happening?

Cushing explains this phenomenon with the concept of 'The Anti-Social Century'. Nowadays, Americans are spending more time alone than ever in history. The time spent meeting friends or neighbors directly has decreased by about 20% compared to 20 years ago, and especially unmarried men under 25 have seen a decrease of over 35%. This might be the reason why the younger generation has fewer friends.

There are even more interesting statistics. Nowadays, men spend 7 hours more watching TV than hanging out with friends, and women spend more time with pets than with human friends. Of course, the world has changed. The internet, smartphones, Netflix, YouTube, games, TikTok... all kinds of content are waiting for us without having to go outside.

But I want to ask this: "Why does having fun always have to feel annoying and uncomfortable?"

Our generation enjoyed parties despite the discomfort. There were awkward moments, and it was hard to greet someone new, but in the end, we made friends, shared life stories, and truly felt the joy of 'living among people'. Of course, for me and my friends in our 20s, dating girls was the biggest concern.

In fact, America has traditionally enjoyed a party culture. People in New England in the 1800s would gather for maple syrup parties and quilt parties even in the winter when it was hard to move. Visits varied from simple greetings to helping with childbirth, condolences for the deceased, and communal labor for building houses. This is how communities were formed, and the joy of living was felt.

Even with urbanization, parties remained. In the 1970s, American households invited friends over an average of 15 times a year, and there are records of visiting friends' houses once every two weeks. It wasn't until the late 1990s that that rate began to decline sharply.

Of course, nowadays people are probably socializing in their own ways. Friendships can also blossom in online spaces like Discord, Zoom, and Instagram Live. But I believe that as human beings, we ultimately become stronger through the process of facing each other, laughing, talking, and sometimes awkwardly being silent.

I understand why the younger generation, often referred to as Generation Z, doesn't party.

The pandemic has changed the times, and it's tough for young people to find jobs... Above all, there are many things to do with smartphone apps.

However, the experiences of meeting people at parties that young people find uncomfortable can become turning points that change their lives.

And shaking my body to the bass from the speakers, laughing at silly jokes with a red solo cup filled with beer, those moments will surely be missed later.

Well, it seems that the barbecue culture enjoyed by American families with their neighbors has also significantly decreased these days... Perhaps we are gradually losing the 'taste of living among people'.