In olden times, a person would work 12 hr days for a season. When they had down time they had to do something. Most took up hobbies or research to better themselves. That is how a lot of this came to be.
Nowadays, our idle folks spend their time in trivial pursuits and mindless entertainment.
Surfing on facebook, chatting on WhatsApp, sharing pictures on SnapChat.......I see your point there.