> Learning to socialize with other human beings,

You mean in totally artificial contexts? Yeah, that was great

in natural groups like hobby activities

I don't think that's the fix, to be honest.

In the "good old times" people were relying on network of friends. I did not meet my wife at a random bar or in the public transportation. We were moving in the same circles, had lots of common friends, we were both already "vetted" by mutual acquaintances when we started dating. I believe this was the pattern for thousands of years.

I met my wife in a completely random way, no bars etc. involved. We've been happily married for over fifty years. We ran across each other and just started talking.

Same. I was standing outside my dorm room on the phone with my shirt off (back when that would garner more than a few long glances from some), and my future wife was breaking school regs and shortcutting unescorted through the males-only dorm (we still had those). As she went by she kept a looong glance going... we met again randomly at an event a couple of days later and laughed about it. Nearing 50 years later we still laugh about it.

There's missing some context.

> on the phone . . . Nearing 50 years later

Did you have a really long cord? Was it in the hallway or out the window?

Yeah, I'd replaced the cord with one that could reach anywhere in the room or outside into the hall.