This article explores the paradox of modern life where increased connectivity hasn't led to less loneliness. It highlights the rising rates of chronic loneliness, despite a culture obsessed with busyness and productivity.
The paradox, of course, is that we are deluged with more ways than ever to connect feel lonely some of the time, with more than 2.5 million people reporting chronic loneliness, meaning that they often or always feel lonely.
Not that you would know it from looking around us. It seems like we’re busier than ever. People joke about the need to schedule in. TikTok is awash with ways to blast through your to-do list – right now it’s all about securing your “winter arc” and getting on top of your personal goals. Even a simple “how are you doing?” almost always seems to be answered with “it’s been so hectic!” and “sooo busy right now”.
But the cult of busyness and productivity has come at the expense of something else – genuine social connection. Research shows that wethan previous generations. Between 2003 and 2023, the average unmarried American – those young, carefree singletons you might expect to have more than enough time on their hands to hang out with each other,-style – actually reduced their face-to-face socialising by 35 percent.
The paradox, of course, is that we are deluged with more ways than ever to connect – you just need to take a look at the oversaturated dating app market. But none of it feels like it leads to lasting social ties, or at least of the kind that people are actually hungry for. You can follow hundreds of your colleagues and so-called friends on social media, but you may not feel any closer to truly knowing them.
It’s easy to get all doom-and-gloom and predict a future in which we’ll all be shut-ins like the screen-addicted, sofa-bound humans depicted in the Pixar filmIn London, you can’t step out of the house without hitting a trendy run club or a hike group, just one of the many social-based activities trying to facilitate new meet-ups in the capital – there’s even one calledis getting in on it with a five-day Friendship Challenge to strengthen “fizzling friendships and to deepen your close ties”, and...
Loneliness Social Connection Busyness Productivity Health Risks
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