In many countries today, people in cities either live alone or in small family units,

rather than in large family groups. Is this a positive or negative trend?

Nowadays, living by oneself or in small family units is becoming increasingly common

as opposed to living in large family groups, which is becoming less popular in cities around
the world. In my opinion, while this trend may have certain benefits, it also has some
negative effects.
On the one hand, living alone or in small family units will create many opportunities
for personal development. People living by themselves have to manage their own
independence instead of relying on parents or siblings. In this way, they will have to try hard
to maintain their own wellbeing, make a commitment to hardworking and have proper
plans to ensure their financial independence. For example, students who have to stay far
away from their parents will have the opportunities to build their own values and make
their own plans for the future, thus preparing to become a part of society. After all, having
good personal values is one of the most essential factor leading to improving the world
around us.
On the other hand, this trend can potentially have negative effects on many aspects.
Living alone or in small units requires more housing spaces in general, which will force many
natural areas to be destroyed to make space for urban infrastructure. This will significantly
affect the environment of cities, causing various kinds of pollution. Not only do cities have to
deal with issues, but families’ relationship will also be affected. When young people choose
to live independently, they will not have the chance to take care of or show gratitude to
their parents. This is particularly dangerous when abandoned old people experience sudden
critical health condition or similar emergencies.
In conclusion, living alone or in small families certainly has both benefits and
drawbacks. However, I believe that the drawbacks can be outweighted if people are aware
of them and create balance between the sides.