The US auto industry fears that financially-pressed young people who connect online instead of in person could hold down peak demand by 2 million units each year.

The Atlantic Cities associate editor Jordan Weissmann recalls how youth culture in the States was once car culture.

“Teens cruised their Thunderbirds to the local drive-in, Springsteen fantasized about racing down Thunder Road, and Ferris Bueller staged a jailbreak from the 'burbs in a red Ferrari. Cars were Friday night. Cars were Hollywood,” he says.

But things are changing. And car manufacturers are worried. Read Weissmann's story here.