The rise of neighborism: Why Americans are turning to local connections for support and resilience

From digital connections back to local roots

For years, the internet convinced us that meaningful relationships didn’t require physical proximity. Your community could thrive in a Discord server, a group chat, or a TikTok comment section. Geography was optional. Now, a growing number of Americans are turning to the people physically closest to them—the neighbor down the block, the parent at the playground, or the person whose Wi-Fi appears in your network list—for support.

This shift isn’t just about seeking connection; it’s about survival. Childcare costs are soaring. Rent and groceries are unaffordable. Climate emergencies are becoming more frequent. For many, the difference between stability and crisis hinges on whether someone nearby can step in. This growing practice is what some are calling “neighborism”: treating proximity as a vital resource.

How digital tools are reviving local relationships

Digital tools aren’t replacing local relationships—they’re helping to activate them. Sometimes, the changes are small: introducing yourself to neighbors on your floor, starting a group chat for your building, sharing babysitters, or watering a neighbor’s plants. But in other cases, neighborism takes on a more overtly political role.

In Minneapolis, residents responded to increased ICE activity by organizing patrols, filming arrests, sharing alerts, and training one another to document potential abuses. What emerged wasn’t just neighborly kindness—it was infrastructure: informal, fast-moving, and built on trust. This wasn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of a larger trend reshaping communities nationwide.

Why neighborism is gaining visibility now

Getting to know your neighbors isn’t a new concept, but its resurgence is. After decades of isolation and a shift toward long-distance digital connections, people are embracing an old-fashioned idea: communities function best when people feel responsible for one another.

Eric Klinenberg, a sociology professor at New York University and author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, notes that Americans were more likely to socialize with neighbors 60 years ago. At the time, long-distance communication was expensive, and most people’s lives revolved around their home base. “Women were less likely to be in the paid labor force, which meant they spent more time in and around the neighborhood, where they anchored the family’s social life,” Klinenberg explains.

Today, the landscape has changed. “Americans work longer hours than they did sixty years ago, and often in more than one job,” Klinenberg writes. “Temp work, gig work, and full-time jobs all demand a lot—as do the familial demands facing the ‘sandwich generation.’” The result? Americans socialize more at work and have less energy for community engagement after hours.

Key factors driving the neighborism trend

• Economic pressures: Rising costs of living make local support networks essential for survival.
• Climate emergencies: More frequent disasters increase the need for immediate, localized assistance.
• Social fragmentation: After years of digital-only interactions, people crave tangible, in-person connections.
• Political engagement: Local crises, such as immigration enforcement, are prompting organized community responses.

What neighborism looks like in practice

The manifestations of neighborism vary widely, from casual acts of kindness to structured community efforts. Examples include:

• Creating a neighborhood group chat to share resources or organize events.
• Setting up a system for sharing childcare or pet-sitting among trusted neighbors.
• Participating in local mutual aid networks to address food insecurity or housing needs.
• Organizing community patrols or safety initiatives in response to local threats.
• Hosting block parties or potlucks to strengthen neighborhood bonds.

“Communities function best when people feel responsible for one another.” — Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and author of Palaces for the People

The future of neighborism

As economic and environmental challenges continue to mount, neighborism is likely to grow. Digital tools will play a key role in facilitating these connections, but the core of the movement remains rooted in trust, reciprocity, and shared responsibility. Whether through small acts of kindness or large-scale community organizing, the trend reflects a broader desire to rebuild the social fabric of local life.

For those looking to get started, the message is clear: start small, but start now. Introduce yourself to a neighbor. Join a local group chat. Offer help where you can. In an era of uncertainty, proximity might just be the most valuable resource of all.