Social fragmentation - does it matter?

Sociologists often use the category of when 50% of thinking changes, the society has changed. I have been told that 1000 years ago this sort of change occurred less than once a century. In the twentieth century it occurred about every 25 years, and in the 21st century it occurs more than once a decade. Change is normal.

One of the big arenas of change is in social connection and interaction. 50 years ago it was normal for communities to gather to celebrate social events, for example Empire Day (does anyone remember that!). It was also normal for there to be Town Hall meetings, and the proliferation of School of Arts and similar halls were testimony to communal gatherings.

But not anymore. Read more