In my high school AP U.S. History class, we learn about the development of television and its effect on American society. The increase of cinemas and television created a more national culture of going to the theaters and watching movies, it brought people closer together. People appreciated having the time to go out with their family and do activities. While people today can still go out to the theaters, the amount of movie theater attendees have been going down for years.

According to a 2025 Kagan survey, frequent movie-goers dropped from 39% in 2019 to only 17% in 2025. With the increase of online streaming services that provide movies and shows when they come out, many don’t have a “need” to go out and watch the movie in theaters. However, the decrease in going to the movie theater isn’t the only activity that has been going down throughout the years. Activities like going to the trampoline park also seem to be decreasing. While it could just be because now that I’m older, not as many people my age would want to go to a place that is mainly targeted for younger children.

While people can still bond over movies and watch them together at home, where’s the fun in it? I’ve always felt as though I bond more with people when I actually go out and do an activity together. Activities like miniature golf, going to the movies and trying new food restaurants are some of my favorites in order to bond with friends or family. As a society, it seems like we’ve lost the appreciation for being able to go out and partake in fun activities. However, it’s understandable due to the rise in a lot of prices within the United States. 

There are still activities that people can attend without feeling like they’re putting a dent in their pocket. Such as things as simple as going on a walk. In the city I live in, there’s a lot of green areas with paths to walk, run or even hike.

I’ve always loved going outdoors, so I try to go as often as I can. Either going on a walk with my family, or even fishing with my friends. But now, my friends often don’t want to go out. I find myself just silently doomscrolling with them frequently when we hangout. It’s made me realize how society has lost their connection when it comes to actively bonding.

Despite the temptation to stay inside, be a couch potato and watch TV, which I admit is hard to resist, going out and doing activities with loved ones is so much more beneficial. Not only does it get you out of the house, but going out and doing activities can create long lasting memories.