Humans are naturally social beings, it is quite literally coded into our DNA – our survival as a species was dependent on mutual cooperation and collaboration. The earliest human beings fought, hunted and lived together leading to civilization. However, millions of years of evolution has brought us here today, at a time when human beings are lonelier than ever.
Catastrophic world events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, endless wars, the rise of social isolation and increased social media usage have exacerbated these issues certainly, and as a result Gen Z has emerged the loneliest generation of all. According to Forbes, 73% of Gen Z report feeling isolated or friendless despite the fact that they seem to remain hyperconnected online.
However, digital contact cannot replace the physical and it is being keenly felt by this chronically online generation. Now, Gen Z’s seem to be participating in a wildly popular 2010s trend that promises to bring back social contact – trying their best to fight back against a loneliness pandemic which seems to plague the masses.
So what is communal dining?
The communal dining trend is exactly what it sounds like: seating multiple groups of different people together at large banquet tables. This trend blew up in the 2010s when millennials divided the layman and scholar alike with the concept of shared tables and joint eating areas. Think: a chaotic lunchroom where people have to talk to each other and interact.
While this seems the most mundane of activities, a part of day-to-day life, it has ceased to be the way of young people at the moment. Although, an attempt at bringing this culture back is being brought by the generation who would usually cringe at even rubbing elbows.
According to Business Insider, a report by Resy, an online reservation service company, found that 63% of responders felt communal tables were great for meeting new people, with half saying that they had “interesting conversations with someone they otherwise wouldn’t have spoken to while dining with strangers.” One in three even said that they’d found a new friend while one in seven said that they’d managed to land a date. It is worth mentioning that 90% of Gen Zs liked the communal dining experience versus just 60% of Boomers according to that same report.
Communal dining is bound to bring people together
Perhaps a trend like communal dining is exactly what is needed to break through the layer ice which seems to freeze over social interactions for Gen Zs. Notably, The concept of communal dining is not a new one. It has existed for thousands of years with a fluctuating popularity following periods of immense social disconnection. Post the tragedy of 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008, people came together seeking connection and communal dining offered the exact opportunity for it.
Beyond just intermingling with new people, communal dining also has a host of other benefits: meals become more cost effective when they are shared and diners get the opportunity to try new flavours with a lighter burden on their pockets. The in-person dining experience also offers a better value for one’s money than just simply getting take-out or picking up food at drive-throughs.
Thus, with Gen Z taking a page out of their elders’ books and actively pushing back against the isolation the world seems to be heading toward, real-world experiences and connections are on the rise. Will this trend make a lasting impact? Only time will tell. But it certainly feels like a step in the right direction for future social bonds – and that in itself is commendable.
