I predict that bci technology will be good ~enough in a few years that we will see recreational hive minds offered as a new frontier of indulgence and adrenaline. Shortly after this becomes popular, people will start to hive with plants and animals at Feedback Lounges in search of new highs.

This will first be loosely regulated, moral panics might ensue (one person per nervous system!), and eventually it could either become a high or low class way of connecting. I could see a future in which hiving is seen as low-class because it speeds up the connection process; if you're wealthy, you can afford to take your time getting to know someone. Similarly, I can see the tech simply being too expensive and difficult to access, causing it to be a pastime relegated to the hyper-wealthy. Likely a mixture of both in different regions will occur. Regardless, those on the frontier of human experience will likely quickly become hooked.