SINGAPORE, Feb 14 — Neighbours are not exchanging greetings or striking up casual conversations as much as before, amid a trend of residents in public housing flats turning to social media or chat groups to interact with people in their community.

Fewer residents also engaged in "higher-intensity interactions” with their neighbours, by visiting or exchanging food or gifts or helping to look after children, for instance.

These were among the findings of the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) latest sample household survey, which were released today.

The survey was conducted between January and September 2018 involving about 7,800 households, just as the number of HDB households here surpassed one million.

It found that some 11.8 per cent of residents communicated with their neighbours through group chats or social media in 2018, when less than 5 per cent interacted through these means in 2013.

However, 97 per cent of those surveyed in 2018 said they exchanged greetings with their neighbours, versus 98.6 per cent in 2013.

And 94.4 per cent said they engaged in casual conversations with their neighbours, compared to 97 per cent in 2013.

Here’s how interaction levels have dropped for what HDB considered "higher-intensity” neighbourly engagements: