From shopping to dating, real-life interaction is being eroded from almost every corner of society.

Thanks to self-checkouts, you can now easily get your groceries, buy a new top, and stock up on cat food without uttering a word to a single human being.

And while some people have embraced this new technological era, individuals struggling with loneliness are longing for those little moments of connection.

In an effort to combat the issue, Morrisons has now teamed up with the 1 Million Minutes campaign – an initiative launched in the UK in 2016 that asks members of the public to donate their time (as opposed to their money).

From Thursday 4 December to Sunday 7 December, the supermarket’s ‘Talking Tills’ will offer customers the chance to spend a tad more time at checkout, having a conversation with staff and hopefully brightening their day.

According to David Scott, corporate affairs director at Morrisons, the scheme will help ‘create space for those meaningful moments, offering customers the chance to slow down and chat if they’d like to.’

‘At Morrisons, supporting the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do,’ he continued. ‘We know that for many people, especially at this time of year, a simple conversation can make a real difference.’

A simple conversation can go a long way

Loneliness is a significant problem in the UK.

A Government survey, which looked at different aspects of British life and community from 2023 to 2024, found that 7% (approximately 3.1 million Brits) reported feeling lonely often or always, marking a 1% increase against the previous year.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, where the 1 Million Minutes campaign first launched almost 10 years ago, former care worker Pat shared how, with so many day centres shutting down, the supermarket is one of the only places isolated people can chat and mix with others.

Others feel the same, showing support for Talking Tills online.

‘Get the till staff to chat away to customers and allow them to take their time like they used to,’ wrote X user @BetsyMcBotty. ‘A lot of customers used to really enjoy that.’

‘This is a great idea for people to stay in touch and tackle loneliness, especially at Christmas time,’ said another, @PaulYoung, while @littlenic1976, added: ‘Supermarkets don’t want you talking to anyone. I have worked in two and they get rid of all the till lanes. It’s so sad. I always used to get told off for talking too much to the elderly. I might have been their only conversation all day.’

Daniel Robinson, editor of Good Morning Britain commented: ‘This year feels more urgent than ever, with rising prices in the shops and pressure on families, it’s so easy to feel disconnected.’

‘We all know what it feels like to feel lonely. And whether it’s a family member, a friend, a neighbour or a stranger, pledging just a few minutes of time can really make a difference.’

Since its inception, the 1 Million Minutes campaign has seen over 880 million minutes pledged by members of the public.

It may slow down your shop

While Morrisons’ Talking Tills initiative has been well-received by many, some on social media have expressed concerns over how it might affect the speediness of checkout services.

Responding to GMB’s video, @Padelgirl wrote: ‘That’ll not go down well during the lunchtime & afternoon rush!’

‘What nonsense!’ added X user @JohnDoe. ‘Personally, I want a quick checkout not a chat that centres around the weather, what I am doing later on or something else equally facile. That’s why I use self service!’

However, @DaveHenson hit back, commenting: ‘So that lane isn’t for you then!’

How are supermarkets tackling loneliness?

Alongside the ‘Talking Tills’ initiative this Christmas season, Morrisons has donated £50,000 to fund 100 of Royal Voluntary Service’s festive spreads and providing 400 free Christmas meals in Morrisons cafés in partnership with Age UK.

And they aren’t the only ones getting involved in this effort.

In 2024, Asda launched its ‘Chatty Cafés’ scheme, pledging almost £1 million to combat loneliness in older generations.

Specifically targeted at the over-60s, the supermarket’s cafés offered £1 soup, bread rolls, and unlimited tea and coffee – providing a space for people to chat and eat together.

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