cocooning

Cocooning is a sociocultural and consumer behavior pattern characterized by a preference for a home-centered life and avoidance of public or communal spaces. It involves investing in domestic spaces, relationships, and digital connectivity to create a sense of safety and control.

The term was popularized in the 1980s by trend forecaster Faith Popcorn, who described people retreating from public life due to concerns about crime, complexity, and personal risk.

In practice, cocooning manifests through home entertainment systems, streaming services, online shopping, remote work, and the use of smart-home devices and security systems. Social activity often shifts to smaller, more private circles and virtual interactions.

Reasons include perceived threats in public spaces, desire for convenience, and the increasing affordability and reliability of home-based technologies.

Economic and cultural impacts include growth in the furniture, electronics, and home-improvement sectors, as well as changes in urban planning, retail, and transportation. Critics argue that cocooning can contribute to social isolation and reduced civic participation, though others view it as a response to modern insecurities and a driver of efficiency.

The concept continues to evolve with developments such as pandemics or remote-work norms, which can intensify cocooning or shift its expression toward hybrid patterns. See also social isolation, digital home, and work-from-home culture.