The GB is very aware that the social pressures to conform to their sectarian view are a powerful element of being a JW. Shunning would not work half as well if the socialising was not practised.
Social gatherings strongly help persuade the newbies to realise that the famed oddballs called Jehovah’s Witnesses are just ordinary people. Secondly, social gatherings are hardly ever religious in content so ordinary human interactions are possible.
Today with the new and glossy public relations makeover, JW zombies are being distracted from the perpetual doctrinal problems and are happy about belonging to an apparently progressive religion.
The end result is still total mind control and misinformation which upholds the GB’s sole aim to keep the money flowing in and the cult strong...but I do hope their new dalliance with public media will unwittingly expose their nasty cultic practises.