Is Society on the Decline? These Signs All Point To Yes

All great empires eventually fall. We only hope it doesn’t happen in our lifetime. Some signs portend an impending collapse of society, and it may fail sooner rather than later if we don’t make changes.

Here are the top signs that point to a society on the decline. 

Shorter Attention Spans

Pretty young shocked woman holding her phone on a bright blue background.
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People seek out short tidbits of information. Sound bites lack nuance, and the ever-decreasing attention spans mean people will lose the ability to think critically about the information they consume. 

Attention Seeking

Female social media influencer holding a "follow" sign in one hand and a "like & subscribe" sign in the other.
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The rise in social media apps like TikToks highlighted an inherent problem in humanity: the never-ending desire for attention and validation. We learned that people would do almost anything for a brief few seconds of internet fame. 

Accepting Lower Standards

Man shrugging as if to say "oh well"
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Standards everywhere are lowering, and people just shrug and take it. Our leaders are atrocious, our jobs treat us poorly, and we receive subpar service when we try to enjoy ourselves. The bar has lowered nearly everywhere we look. 

Dumbing Down the News

journalism newsroom with a large screen reading "breaking live."
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The 24-hour news cycle turned news into infotainment. It now caters to the lowest common denominator and twists the truth in the never-ending quest for views and profits. 

Shopping Carts

Happy man riding a shopping cart on a pink background.
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The true test of compassion is whether someone will return their shopping cart. There are no stakes in it. No one gets in trouble for leaving it in the parking lot. But a good person will always return it because it’s the right thing to do, while a selfish person doesn’t care and leaves it be. 

As more and more shopping carts litter parking lots across the US, we realize we’re suffering an endemic of selfishness. 

Wealth Disparity

Wealth inequality concept. A business stands on a huge pile of coins, towering over the workers beneath who hardly have any coins.
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The gap between rich and poor grows ever wider while fewer and fewer people hoard all the wealth. Society will not survive if the trend continues. 

Loneliness

Man sitting with his hands near his chin, sadly thinking and seriously thinking
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Humanity thrives on connection, yet we all seal ourselves away into our homes. The internet made everyone lonely, and no one knows how to fix it. 

AI

Sad woman leaving a job with her things boxed up to make it look like she was just fired.
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Artificial intelligence is still so new we don’t know how it will impact society. However, we’re already seeing the possibilities with the strikes in Hollywood. How will society adapt if AI replaces the creative geniuses responsible for advancement?

Making a Living

Sad man in a suit showing an empty wallet.
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As the cost of living steadily increases, pay remains stagnant. Millions struggle to stay afloat, teetering on the brink of disaster. We can’t maintain this delicate balancing act forever. Something will eventually have to give. 

No Empathy

Proud looking selfish man wearing a crown looking down on others.
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It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. People have absolutely no empathy for anyone else. They refuse to step into someone else’s shoes and consider their experiences. Instead, it’s I, Me, Me I. People only care about an issue when it directly affects them. 

No Personal Responsibility

Couple pointing fingers at each other to blame each other.
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There was a time when people held themselves accountable for their own actions. Now, they point their fingers everywhere else, trying to blame anyone and anything they can. 

Climate Change

Dead dried out trees on a beach to represent climate change.
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As summer heat waves intensify, fires ravage forests, and hurricanes decimate entire cities, more and more people become displaced. Food supplies tighten, and power grids push to their limits.

The looming climate disaster and our refusal to do anything in preparation highlight our position as a society on the decline. 

Rise in Fascism

model politician with assistant talking to journallists.
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With a declining standard of living, many are looking for a “strong man” leader to protect them. These “strong men” typically make promises they don’t intend to seek in their desperate grasp for power and control. 

We’re seeing a rise in authoritarianism across the globe. 

People Can’t Afford Kids

Sleeping infant wrapped in light blue bear blanket on a blue grey background.
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Even people who want children can’t afford to have them. When basic biology gets put off, you know society is on the decline. Here’s the truth about why young folks aren’t having kids: they can’t afford it. 

All The Propaganda

Man with a tv head playing puppet master to a group of smaller people with tvs for heads.
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Propaganda surrounds us. It attempts to sway our thinking in both mundane and critical ways. Here are some examples of propaganda we see every day.

America’s Very Real Poverty Trap

hands holding an empty wallet to represent poverty
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We often think of third-world countries when we talk about poverty, but it’s thriving right here in the US.

Here’s the truth about America’s Poverty Trap.

Is America Actually Dystopian?

Panaoramic of a city with the top mirroring the bottom in a fantastical manner.
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Although there are many fantastic things about living in the US, some of our systems and laws leave many scratching their heads, wondering if we’re already living in a dystopian nightmare. 

Here’s the evidence that makes us wonder if America is actually a dystopia.  

Conspiracy Theories That Might Just Be True

Pretty short haired woman with her hand on her chin and a smile on her face as if she's having a happy thought.
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Some conspiracy theories are far more believable than others. Here are some we can get on board with

Source: Reddit 

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.