How YouTube and TikTok have substituted the in-person creative communities we once relied upon. The much-needed revival of in-person groups will require safe, supportive spaces to create. This is how to find yours!
When you want to learn a new skill, where do you start? Today, 50% of us rely on YouTube and other content-based platforms, whilst a growing majority turns to AI for answers. [1] Millions of us are practising skills in the isolation of our homes. Whilst we share a world of instant communication and 5G, there’s an alarmingly high rate of loneliness across the UK. New data urges us to revive in-person community groups that we once relied upon. The challenge? It’s not a lack of interest but an uncertainty. Will we feel safe, supported, and genuinely welcomed when we turn up?
When was the last time you spoke to a stranger on the tube or at the checkout of your local supermarket?
Concern mounts as 99% of kids in the UK access online platforms, with 92.6% using them daily. [2] Worryingly, the majority of the time spent online was outside of school hours. Yet, the same level of concern has just been raised for a lack of in-person connection across the generations:
38% of adults expressed a preference for interacting on social media, while 32% remain neutral, and 30% favor in-person interactions. [3] [4]
These stats present a growing preference for screen-to-screen communication over face-to-face contact in most scenarios – and the knock-on effects are eye-opening.
On average, we spent about 6 hours and 39 minutes online each day in 2025. With the majority of this scrolling happening outside of school and work hours. How does your screen time compare?
Now, data show us that the amount of time we spend online varies from person to person, and is dependent on many factors:
Those least online: Seniors (65+) spend the least time online, with an average of 4 hours a day.
The most time spent online: Girls and women aged 16–24 reportedly spend an average of 7 hours and 35 minutes a day. [5]
However, whilst there’s quite a stark difference in the amount of time spent online, between those least and most connected, an average screen time of 4 hours is still a significant proportion of our days.
With global connection instantaneous now, why are we still so isolated?
In 1995, only 0.77% of the world’s population was online. By 2025, nearly two-thirds of humanity was connected via the internet. [6] Yet, in 2026, whilst we are more connected to the world via the internet than ever before, the gutting stats suggest that we are still the loneliest we’ve ever been.
- 1 in 6 people worldwide report feeling lonely [7]
- Young people aged 16–24 experienced a drop in daily in‑person contact with friends, from 53 % in 2006 to 36 % by 2022. This shows a long‑term decline in face‑to‑face social life. [8]
- 33% of Britons aged 16 to 29 reported feeling lonely “often, always or some of the time”. This is the highest of all age groups. [9]
- Whilst 17% of over-70s said that they too felt lonely “often”. [10]
If you had a stopclock counting the time you spent socialising in person, would it trump your average screentime?
60% of UK consumers reported buying groceries online instead of trekking to the supermarket, whilst many adults favour at-home workouts via tutorials over a public gym class or club. [8] These are all opportunities for human connection that are now removed from our daily routine.
These trends have changed the way we engage in hobbies and learn new skills. Arts and Craft is just one example:
Before technology:
- Historically, craft was very much a group or community-centred activity rather than an isolated one. These skills were often learned, practised, and passed down collectively.
VS.
Today:
- Over half of people aged between 16 and 44 have used YouTube to teach themselves a new skill. [11]
- 16–17% of people reported self‑teaching something new using platforms like Instagram or TikTok. [12]
- Data comparing fine arts programs across a sample of universities shows 3 % of undergraduates in fine arts programs were studying entirely online, while another 36 % took at least one online course as part of their studies. [13]
Here’s how we can reclaim it!
What seems to hold us back is not a lack of interest, but a lack of certainty: the question of whether we will feel safe, supported, and welcomed there.
According to The Creative Renaissance report, the most popular option is online classes from home (43%), followed by learning in a group with other beginners (35%) or informally with friends (28%). [14]
When looking into why people favoured online learning, it appeared that formal settings can feel intimidating, especially for those just starting. Instead, beginner-friendly groups and informal sessions are important in offering a gentler entry point.
Therefore, it seems that barriers to access such communities are the first thing to tackle, creating more spaces where people can feel safe to turn up face-to-face. Once those barriers are overcome, there’s an extensive list of benefits for our well-being when learning and socialising as part of a group.
Safety in Numbers: 3 benefits of socialising
* For all ages!
- Mental Wellbeing: In a study of older adults, those who met family or friends at least 3 times a week had half the number of depressive symptoms (6.5%), compared to 11.5 % for people who met rarely – showing almost double the risk of depression with less in-person contact. [15]
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Engaging in social interactions can significantly lower stress levels. [16] 34% say it improves their mood and happiness, whilst 31% report reduced stress and anxiety. [14]
- Health benefits: Strong social connections relate to a 29% lower risk of heart disease and 50% reduced stroke risk. [17] In fact, 81% think that hobbies like art, writing and music are vital for wellbeing in later life. [14]
Our new research, The Creative Renaissance, confirms that creativity plays a vital role in combating isolation. A striking 88% of respondents agree that creative hobbies help combat loneliness in later life, while nearly three-quarters (72%) say taking part in creative activities helps them feel more connected to others.
“art-K is just one small part of this story. Across the country – in community centres and village halls, in studios and living rooms – older adults are painting and writing and singing and making. Proving that creativity has no expiry date… The over 60s in this study already know that. The evidence is now catching up with them.” – Kathryn, founder of art-K, on The Creative Renaissance
Graph from the Creative Renaissance report, link.
Our students do a better job of illustrating why that is than any stat:
We asked: What do you value about your weekly class? And what would you say to someone who’s nervous to go to an in-person class?
“I enjoy the freedom to do the projects I enjoy and relaxed and helpful guidance from the tutor. I also enjoy the sense of community within the group, it’s a great social experience as well as a creative outlet… Go along, everyone is really warm and welcoming, you will have a fab time!” – Alanna, art-K Horsforth
A New Year is a great time to try new things! Here’s how to find safety in your safe space:
- Find beginner-friendly groups and groups that cater to a range of abilities tend to be more welcoming, reducing the barriers to attending.
- Reach out to the organisers beforehand to ask any questions you may need to establish to make you feel safer and happier to attend.
- Find taster sessions and other opportunities to meet the group to ensure you feel comfortable before signing up.
“There is a bigger point here… In an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital technology, the distinctly human elements of creativity, connection and community become more precious. No algorithm can replicate the feeling of being in a room with other people, learning together, laughing together, making something together.” – Kathryn, founder of art-K, on The Creative Renaissance
Written by Molly Huxley
Edited and approved by Emily Harper
Sources:
[1] https://www.acuitytraining.co.uk/news-tips/virtual-learning-stats
[2] Bullying and online experiences among children in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics
[5] https://sqmagazine.co.uk/internet-statistics/
[6] Internet Statistics 2026: Usage, Speed, and Connectivity Insight • SQ Magazine
[10] The surprising truth about who the loneliest generations are – BBC News
[11] https://www.acuitytraining.co.uk/news-tips/virtual-learning-stats
[12] https://www.acuitytraining.co.uk/news-tips/virtual-learning-stats
[13] https://www.univstats.com/comparison/majors/fine-arts/student-population
[14 ]https://www.art-k.co.uk/creative-renaissance/
[16] Five Surprising Health Benefits to Socializing with Others
Further Reading:
- A real look at our online usage: Internet Statistics 2026: Usage, Speed, and Connectivity Insight • SQ Magazine
- https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/digital-art-market
- The Creative Renaissance
- The friendship secret: why socialising could help you live longer | Neuroscience | The Guardian
