Self-Checkout Could Be Making Americans Lonelier

The rise of self-checkout technology in retail could be contributing to the increasing loneliness of Americans. While self-checkout is popular, it's also leading to fewer "weak ties" – casual relationships between customers and cashiers – which social scientists say are important for social interactions. As technology contributes to a sense of isolation, with around two-thirds of Americans feeling that technology has made it harder to connect with others, the Surgeon General's report has warned about the health consequences of loneliness exacerbated by technology.