Losing Connection: Shrinking Social Networks and Closing Pubs

Human social networks evolved in small, stable communities shaped by local ecology and shared norms. But modern life looks very different. Since the 1970s, populations have exploded, cities have grown, and inequality has risen — while, paradoxically, social networks have shrunk and loneliness has increased. We suggest these trends are connected. Rapid population-level change may have outpaced our evolved social psychology, undermining the conditions that once supported everyday social connection. In this talk, I will outline how and why cultural changes – specifically rises in urbanisation, globalisation, inequality, and technological advancement - have impacted the size and quality of social networks. Specifically, I will be advancing the argument that these systematic cultural changes have eroded our opportunities to create interdependent relationships, reducing our ability to create deep long-lasting connections, resulting in the rise of the loneliness epidemic.

Pubs in the UK are under significant pressure. Since 1980, one in four ceased activity forever, and nearly 300 pubs closed across England and Wales in 2024 alone – an equivalent of six a week, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). But the loss of pubs goes far beyond mere business closures. Evidence suggests that pubs play an important role in stimulating and maintaining the social fabric of the communities they serve, working as an incubator for social engagement and involvement, and supporting local economies in many ways. This session will illustrate and discuss the impact of pubs in the UK. providing findings from more recent studies, and proposing solutions that may help halt their decline in number.