What does Daniel Cox think about monk mode for young men?

Daniel Cox says withdrawing into monk mode to work on yourself is the exact opposite of what young men need. His American friendship study found the number of close friends Americans have fell from the 1990s to 2020 and 2021, with an even sharper drop for young men. He wants a turn toward social commitments such as scouting, sports or art, and argues people change for the better through the people in their lives.

• Cox says video games have shifted from a shared activity in one room to something boys mostly play alone or online.
• Cox suggests reimagined chivalry, small protective acts in public spaces, as something young men can aspire to.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Modern Wisdom (2026-10-22). Read the whole episode summary →

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