There is some deeply disturbing data about the decay of human social networks (pdf).
Meanwhile bees, a social insect appear to be in big touble too; something really bad is happening to the bee populations, Colony Collapse Disorder (Wikipedia).

“It is very frightening. We don’t know the cause. … The bees are quite strong. … A week later the colony has dwindled to nothing. … It’s a mystery. … We don’t know where they are going. … Fifty to ninety percent of the colonies. …” – U of Penn (podcast)

They (pdf) are very early in the process of puzzling out what’s going on, mostly just guessing at this point: mites, fungus, contamination, stress, a combination – who knows?

I wish I thought similar resources were being brought to bear on the breakdown in human social networks.