#Society28

27 May 2026

Home delivery divides US cities and countryside

A new study shows Americans’ use of home delivery is strongly split by geography. Urban shoppers rely more on delivery than rural households, a pattern that grew from 2010 to 2023 and affects retailers and logistics firms.

Read

Photo by Zoshua Colah, Unsplash

26 May 2026

People See Friends as Less Cynical Than They Are

A study asked friends about their own cynicism and how cynical they thought their friends were. People usually view friends more positively than friends report themselves, which may help friendships form but also cause problems.

Level

Read

22 Apr 2026

Togolese novelist explores political power

Hubert Kolani, a trained lawyer and young Togolese author, uses his French-language novel Le Sang du Pouvoir to explore political power, mysticism and generational change. He hopes fiction will promote debate and more humane politics.

Level

Read

31 Mar 2026

Is face-to-face conversation quietly fading?

New research suggests people are speaking less in daily life. A study reports a loss of about 338 spoken words per person each year, a decline that has continued for at least a decade and a half.

Level

Read

30 Jan 2026

Chinese app highlights loneliness among young people

A simple app that asks users to check in reached the top of China’s App Store in January 2026. Its popularity has drawn attention to many young people who live alone and wider social changes.

Level

Read

29 Jan 2026

Dry January: a month without alcohol

Dry January is a monthlong break from alcohol that has grown into a global movement. Experts say people join for health reasons and because a clear, time‑bound goal helps motivation.

Level

Read

30 Dec 2025

Older people are less likely to think in zero-sum terms

A new study finds older adults are less likely than younger adults to hold zero-sum beliefs — the idea that one person wins only if another loses. The researchers used survey data and experiments to compare age groups.

Level

Read

30 Dec 2025

Why people buy flowers

Researchers studied who buys cut flowers and why. Availability has grown beyond florists, and buyers report better mood and less stress after buying flowers.

Level

Read

29 Dec 2025

How the 2008 recession changed people’s class identity

Research shows the 2008 Great Recession made many Americans see themselves as lower class. The change in how people view their social class appears to have lasted for years and may affect health and politics.

Level

Read

14 Dec 2025

Study finds similar narcissism patterns across countries

An international study of over 45,000 people in 53 countries found consistent narcissism patterns. Younger adults and men scored higher, people in wealthier countries scored higher, and group-oriented cultures did not differ much from individualistic ones.

Level

Read

10 Dec 2025

How to ship holiday gifts safely

A packaging expert from Virginia Tech recommends simple steps to avoid damaged gifts: use a one-foot drop test, ship from the retailer when possible, and pack with corrugated boxes and fiber padding.

Level

Read

6 Dec 2025

Small pause to slow misinformation on social media

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen propose a small pause before sharing on platforms like X, Bluesky and Mastodon. A computer model shows that a short delay plus a brief learning step can reduce reshares and improve shared content quality.

Level

Read

2 Dec 2025

Ageism in Families

New NYU research describes how adults treat older parents and relatives. The study explains family stereotypes, harm to older adults, and practical steps families can take to reduce ageist behavior and support older relatives.

Level

Read