Social isolation is a growing epidemic, world-wide
The U.S. Surgeon General has said that Social isolation is a growing epidemic, one that’s increasingly recognized as having dire physical, mental and emotional consequences.
“We’re not meant to be lonely as a species,” said Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral sciences at the London School of Economics. “If you were to think of the most significant interventions to improve life expectancy, after quitting smoking, it’s: Don’t be lonely.”
A recent study has found that more than half of U.S. adults, a staggering 58%, report feelings of loneliness. This alarming statistic sheds light on a growing issue in our society - the loneliness epidemic. Social isolation has been found to be a major contributor to a variety of health problems, and it costs the public enormous sums in unnecessary health costs. In fact, social isolation kills far more people in the West each year than terrorists and murderers.
According to the VICELAND UK Census, loneliness is the number one fear of young people today—ranking ahead of losing a home or a job. 42% of Millennial women are more afraid of loneliness than a cancer diagnosis, by far the highest share of any generation.
This fear has been ingrained into the very language of Millennials, like “FOMO” (Fear Of Missing Out), not satisfied with the quality of their relationships and its many companion terms. -- see FORBES Magazine Millennials And The Loneliness Epidemic
Social Media Use and Loneliness
It seems that social media usage increases when people feel lonely, but actually, it makes it worse. It's not just social media, but devices, smartphones, texting, virtual reality, remote work, artificial intelligence, and assistive technologies, to name just a few, contribute to this loneliness epidemic and have quickly and dramatically changed how we live, work, communicate, and socialize.
These technologies are pervasive in our lives. Nearly all teens and adults under 65 (96-99%), and 75% of adults 65 and over, say that they use the internet extensively. Americans spend an average of six hours per day on digital media. One-in-three U.S. adults 18 and over report that they are online “almost constantly,” and the percentage of teens ages 13 to 17 years who say they are online “almost constantly” has doubled since 2015.
When looking at social media specifically, the percentage of U.S. adults 18 and over who reported using social media increased from 5% in 2005 to roughly 80% in 2019. Among teens ages 13 to 17 years, 95% report using social media as of 2022, with more than half reporting it would be hard to give up social media.
Our devices have become an integral part of our daily lives, and they are undoubtedly here to stay and we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of what's coming in terms of technological advancements and the devices that will accompany them. However, as much as we rely on them, it is essential to manage our usage to prevent them from consuming our lives entirely.
It's crucial for us to acknowledge the impact of social isolation and take measures to address it, beginning with disconnecting from technology when possible. This is a concerning trend, as loneliness has been linked to various health problems, and it has been reported that it can be fatal. We encourage people to step away from their screens and seek meaningful human interactions. A straightforward solution is to go outside, connect with nature, join a club, go for a hike, or bike as a significant health remedy for loneliness. In simple terms: JUST GET OUT THERE!
OK. That's the grim news about social Isolation and loneliness.
HERE'S A SOLUTION
Click HERE.
Join the Club!!
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