"By that time, New Jersey had banned plastic bags, so I reverted to the "I can do it faster myself" way of thinking, armed with cute bags made from recycled materials. The way it had become so easy to breeze past the friendly faces of cashiers standing at the end caps of their respective, often empty, check-out lanes waiting to welcome customers might not seem unusual."
"I'm guilty of leaning into leaving my house and socializing less over the past several years, despite considering myself a social person. According to a recent report from the American Psychological Association, many teens are turning to AI chatbots for friendship and emotional support. My college-age daughters confirmed this to be true, which should be concerning to everyone. As someone with a lifelong obsession with human behaviors, I also find it thought-provoking."
A shopper initially resisted self-checkout kiosks but began using them when regular lines were long and to save time. A statewide plastic bag ban and reusable bags reinforced the DIY mindset. The ease of bypassing cashiers led to avoidance of brief social interactions and a growing sense that such small omissions reflect broader social change. The US faces a loneliness epidemic exacerbated by post-pandemic cultural shifts, with many teens turning to AI chatbots for companionship. Personal habits shifted toward leaving home and socializing less. The shopper chose to resume using regular cashiers to reclaim moments of human connection.
Read at Business Insider
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