As families shrink, our primary relationship is increasingly with ourselves

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by David DodwellJanuary 16, 2026 at 01:30 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

A recent trend towards loneliness and single-person households is emerging globally, particularly in China, driven by factors like declining fertility rates, increased life expectancy, later marriages, and rising divorce rates. This shift marks a significant departure from historical norms where large, multi-generational families were common. The "Are You Dead?" app, recently launched in China, highlights concerns about isolation and the lack of social connection among young people in large cities. Social demographers attribute this trend to a combination of demographic shifts and the isolating effects of social media. This growing prevalence of single-person households represents a unique and rapid transformation of human social structures.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Financial Times 40% Lyu 50% National University of Singapore 50% Henan 60% Zhengzhou 60% Wei-Jun Jean Yeung 70% China 80% Aristotle ×390%

Keywords

loneliness 90% one-person households 80% social isolation 70% shrinking families 70% social animals 60% demographic trends 60% fertility decline 50% are you dead? app 50% social disconnection 40%