This is hidden brain.
I'm Shankar Vedantam.
A few short years ago, if you needed to buy something, you would take a walk down to a corner shop or go to a mall.
If you wanted to watch a movie, you went to a theater.
On nights you didn't want to cook, you stepped out to a restaurant.
Shopping, entertainment, and dining brought us into.
Contact with other people.
Waiting in line at checkout or standing in a crowded bar, we encountered a wide spectrum of nice people, mean people, boring people.
Today, many of us choose convenience and comfort over connection.
Need something from the grocery store?
Plug your order into your phone?
Want to see a movie?
Fire up Netflix on your computer?
Need to check in on friends?
Hop on Instagram?
You can pay someone to walk your.
Dog or stand in line for you at a concert.
Dating apps allow you to check out potential mates from the safety of your couch.
Why go out when you can order in?
Some time ago, the food delivery app seamless launched an ad campaign plastering signs all over the New York City subway in bright colors with big yellow font.