Were local communities stronger in the past than they are today?

I think local communities were definitely stronger in the past, especially in smaller cities like my hometown Hangzhou. People used to know their neighbors well and help each other out more naturally. For example, when I was growing up, my parents would often borrow kitchen ingredients from next door, and neighbors would check on elderly residents regularly. In Shanghai now, it's different - people are busy with work and mostly keep to themselves. That said, there are still pockets of community spirit, like the new park I mentioned where people gather and interact. It's just not as widespread as before.