"Your House Is a Mess": Cleaning All Night Before Friends Come Over? Why Home Gatherings Are Disappearing [The World Is Z Now]

(86)In the U.S., Share of People Inviting Guests Home Falls from 42% to 12% in 50 Years
In the U.K., More Than 4 in 10 Say They "Avoid Inviting Guests Over"
Cleaning and Cooking Costs, Along With "Perfect Homes" on Social Media,

Editor's NoteGen Z (people born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is drawing attention as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing world and sets new standards across society. In "The World Is Z Now," we examine the lives and values of Gen Z around the world and explore how they are changing society.

More people are feeling reluctant to invite acquaintances into their homes. Not only does hosting guests mean cleaning the house more thoroughly than usual, but many also feel pressure when they see "perfectly decorated homes" on social media. With dining out increasingly seen as a more convenient alternative to home-cooked meals, the culture of inviting people over is gradually disappearing.

In the U.S. and the UK, "People Don't Invite Guests Over"

The British daily The Guardian recently reported that the culture of inviting guests into one's home is declining. "It used to be very common to go to a neighbor's house for coffee or invite friends over for dinner," the paper reported. "But that's no longer the case."

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According to the report, the proportion of people in the United States who regularly invite friends or family to their homes fell from 42% in 1975 to 12% in 2026. In the UK, a survey of 2,000 adults conducted last year found that more than four in 10 avoid inviting guests over because they feel burdened by having to clean their homes.

Simon, 37, who lives in Glasgow, UK, also spoke about the difficulties of hosting guests. He said that spending so much time looking after guests as the host makes it difficult to have meaningful conversations with friends. "I'm constantly thinking about what guests might need next or going back and forth to the fridge, so I can't focus on the conversation," he said. "It can feel as though everyone else is growing closer, while the host is left feeling a little detached."

Expectations of "Beautiful Homes" on Social Media Add to the Pressure of Hosting

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The time and expense involved in cleaning and cooking are among the factors that make hosting at home feel burdensome. Some say dining out is more economical, especially when inviting several people, as preparing ingredients can be costly. According to data released in 2023 by restaurant booking platform TheFork, preparing a three-course dinner at home for six people cost more than 82 pounds (about 150,000 won).

Therese Lum, a chef based in Sydney, Australia, also said,  "With small apartments, busy lives, and the cost of entertaining several people, dining out feels more convenient. Inviting guests over can feel like work."

The expectations raised by social media also put pressure on hosts. People may feel that tidying up the house and preparing food are not enough, and end up paying close attention to every detail, from table decorations to scented candles and cocktails.

Psychotherapist Kamalyn Kaur said, "On social media, you can see everyone living in homes that look like beautiful mansions. This creates unrealistic expectations about what a home should look like." She added, "People may worry that their homes don't measure up to those standards. Because home is a cozy, personal space, socializing there can feel like an invasion of privacy."

"Fewer Home Gatherings Could Affect the Depth of Friendships," Experts Warn

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Some experts cited urbanization as a reason home gatherings are disappearing. Anthropologist Robin Dunbar explained that as cities grow, people live farther apart, making it harder to meet. "In a small town or city, it's easy to visit each other's homes for a casual get-together," Dunbar said. "There's something called the '30-minute rule': if someone lives more than 30 minutes away, meeting regularly becomes less likely because it takes a lot of time and effort."

Some have also expressed concern that fewer gatherings at home could affect the depth of friendships. "Showing someone who you are at home involves vulnerability," Kaur explained. "If people don't get together at home, they may reveal less of themselves to others, which can affect the depth of their friendships."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.