Hadban for The Washington Post)
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Humaning can be a real bummer sometimes. Former US Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy declared in 2017 that we’re smack dab in the middle of a “lonlinesspalooza,” thanks to our soul-sucking workplaces. Cue the pandemic, and loneliness morphed from private oopsie to nationwide natterfest. Coronavirus lockscreens turned millions into homebodies, cutting off human connections and leaving us adrift in the virtual void. Pessimistic headlines wondered if we’d all become tech-addled hermits.
Loopdy-loop Plugged In, Left Out. Gosh, those Americans sure are a lonesome bunch. Let’s explore how technology glues us together, yet also rips us apart. End of loopdy-loop Lately, loneliness has slunk away ever so slightly from its pandemic pinnacle, with one Gallup survey showing that adult loneliness has dropped from 25% to 17%. Thanks to gyms and cubicles reopening, “only” 44 million Americans are left feeling adrift – still a boatload of sad, though.
Feeling like you’re on an island, population one, can hurt more than just your ego. Studies have found links between loneliness and nasties like heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and weak immunity. Some even put it up there with smoking in terms of mortal risks. Heck, recent research even found ties between loneliness and Alzheimer’s disease.
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As it turns out, lacking a proper squad makes us more jittery and blue, since we’re left to face life’s hurdles without a solid support network. Gallup research found that the number of close American friends has nosedived since the 90s, with over 300 million people worldwide having nary a pal. One in five has no one to lean on when the going gets tough.
Loneliness is an ancient human pickle, and we just love to guess at the source. Social media? Working from home? Nuclear families? Sidewalks in short supply? The truth is, the whys of loneliness are all over the map. Breakups, moves, craptastic jobs – they can all isolate us. Of course, loneliness is different when you’re barely legal and when you’re a senior citizen. And, while technology and social media can create connections, they can also dig the loneliness hole even deeper.
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The Washington Post probed countless lonely souls of all ages about their experiences and tech’s part in the grand scheme of things. High school students, new moms, seniors in assisted living – we’re diving into how these folks make and keep friends. Are tech behemoths our guardian angels, or are they prowling for profits while we suffer? Stick around to discover the answer!
