In an age where technology is allowing people to connect in more ways than ever, why is concern over loneliness on the rise? The #IHaveNoFriends declaration is common on social media and experts say trends in friendlessness have only been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now in the US, the nation’s surgeon general has issued an advisory on loneliness and why it should be considered an epidemic that poses a threat to both individual health and society at large. Studies show chronic loneliness can lead to anxiety and depression, as well as premature death and increased risks of heart disease and dementia.
How has social media and the internet changed our perspectives on finding deeper connections with others? While some technology can be used to combat the effects of social isolation, there is greater cause for concern when online interactions are being used as a replacement for real-life friendships.
In this episode of The Stream, we’ll look at why loneliness is a growing issue and what’s being done about it.
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#loneliness
This happens because of technology,keeps us away fromthe basic fundamantals of life, friendships, no man is an island
The lady said ” is loneliness hype” XD XD XD XD !!! best ever
😂
Hie team, yes it is true I admit I am a part of the loneliness batch. It feels empty, its a cold space, I try to make as many friends as possible but the friendship only ends with a few chats that can last at about 3mins max and silence. There is a crisis
I live alone, is popular s.korean tv show , it’s casts celebrities who live alone, many preferred to stay like that, stuck with phone & work , simply it’s easy & peaceful…
We also have a shortage of organizers. There are very few things to do once you decide to get out of the house. We had more people in the past that would organize different things for the public to attend
So we ww not an anpptmm
AI is $@$
Its because all we do now is work work work theres no community anymore
❤
This won’t be an epidemic for much longer. AI will play a role in solving loneliness
Im watching this alone
@Swisher artificial things can not replace any reality, swisher
@Tolo Wuor will u say ur love one is alive by seeing its image
😂
Hahahaha
Same here, bless you.
I love to be alone, away from toxic people, my best friend is my wife of 22 years and streaming, however I understand as to why people are suffering from loneliness, at 43 I had enough of temporary friends.
Being alone is a choice.
Loneliness is a state of being. If you feel lonely, go out and meet people!
Not a smart comment.
Tbh 95% of the comments are un-intelligent…
Exchanging to belong to a community for its poor substitute, social media, have left them emotionally stunted adults, unable to relate with others.
I’m doing just fine without any friends.
Don’t forget u came to this world alone and will go alone, if you have Jesus u have everything ❤ stay solid.
I just don’t understand this , this is not normal
Humain being is created by Allah as a social being as a pair. Now what happens is social media have connected people’s . Cell phone n technology have done a great job but they made people’s lonely as they spend time. Mostly on there phone rather than socialising with another humain. It’s delusional state of mind that you are connected talking to people’s online but. You don’t have some one around you we have to understand when ever we go against How nature created us we are in trouble.its common every other humain spend half of his day on there cell phones 📞.
More and more people are becoming lonely because we spend more time watching reel videos than engaging in meaningful conversations.
Some of them want to use you! Some of them want to be used by you; some of them want to abuse you; some of them want to be abused… sweet dreams are made of these…
Que Quicksilver scene from X-men.
@Jailan Simon it’s Annie Lennox lyrics.
@Lara Parks dumb. its marilyn manson lyrics.
Read the Bible book of Psalms
Everyone should remove for one moment their apps , turn off their phone for appreciate the huamiity and re connect with their fellows . And no Ai cannot substitue at the human being never.
I love having my own time
“The only way to have a friend is to be a friend.”
– H.P. Baxter
Nature and tech converging at scale.
Get used to it
Your advice at the end of the video doesn’t make sense. How will lonely people call family or a friend if they don’t have any ??
You have given lazy advice, which is unprofessional from Al Jazeera.
Life transforms itself even through viruses. It has good reason. And loneliness is not per se a bad thing, is important for growing and deepness..
Technology has given introverts a pseudo-sociability. The extroverts are those who suffer loneliness without a social circle. There are personalities that can be both introvert or extrovert accordingly, ambiverts who can adjust better socially.
The 16 personality types of the Briggs Myer scheme also explain those who can deal with being alone, like the INFJ & INTJ types.
Loneliness is not solitude. Some people enjoy solitude when they have time & quiet for clear thinking and to sort things out without distraction.
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – usually attributed to George Washington’s
I dont like people – they’re backstabbing phonies and greedy misers. I prefer my pets much more.
I’m lonely too
loneliness is going to social disdisorder today😊💔
FaceBook using the term “friend” for every person and coworker you need to connect with on social media has warped our social understanding of what a true friend is. You don’t need hundreds of friends. You just need one good one, maybe a few comrades. Real friends are like rare and precious stones: they are hard to find, require some work (selflessness), and you should consider yourself rich if you find just one. I was once told that if you have more friends than fingers on your hands, you probably don’t know what a true friend is. I totally agree with the psychologist’s definition of what loneliness is – the gap between reality and what we expect. Social media has taught us to measure self worth in likes and follows, and if we don’t get enough, we equate this lack of response to loneliness and devalue ourselves. You don’t need validation from hundreds of online so-called friends – you just need to matter to someone in real life. The truth is, if you find that one good buddy, your bestie, and are perfectly happy when it’s just the 2 of you because who needs that party – you have found what all those people with hundreds of friends and thousands of followers are still trying to find.
My elders always told me if you can count one true friend on your hand than you are doing better than most people.
Loneliness is not the serious problem here since we all have to be by ourselves from time to time. The real issue is having no one to rely on when crisis comes. When you’re sick and do not have a relative nor a friend or neighbor to ask for help. And as society becomes more and more cold and selfish, the only thing we can do is to strengthen our family bonds. Get closer to our parents, our aunts and uncles, our siblings and cousins. Family is the only way to fight this lonely feeling and, if you get to have any friends, well, don’t waste time and spend quality physical experiences with them! Technology is good as long as it doesn’t replace physical contact.
I agree 💯 when in need and no support that’s the main issue.
What happened to families? Classmates? Work colleagues?
Unless this is a white people epidemic cos with other races they tend to be close to family, though this is changing
Interesting. I have had zero friends for 20 years. I don’t “feel” lonely, but I am 43 and have known that people are not interested in me. Because no one wants to be friends with someone with no friends.
That woman Julian rubbs me wrong with her dismissive laughter and un-empathetic grin.
She says at the beginning
-“but on the bright side people with friends live 50% longer”
Pretty insensitive comment 🤬
Join the club, have been lonely for many many years!! From turning 18, and living on my own, these youngsters have no idea what loneliness is! I have been there for 30 years now 😂
Friends and followers in socmed does not necessarily mean good reliable friends. Technology has made communication accessible, easier but it’s not a guarantee of a long lasting relationship. Today’s lifestyle and attitude about life is also a factor.
Much relevant subject
I am also alone, with no One at all 😢at 56, now I am used to it and almost on the terms 😊 Sohail Karachi Pakistan ❤️🌹👍🏻
Selfish n self centered people will never have friends 😂
Shouldn’t complain about being alone if you’re unwilling to make the effort to socialize
I can Honesty Say This If You Do Have Friends It Might Cause Alot of Trouble When Groups Gather And Party Starts Like The Drinking And The Drugs The Girls Things Start To Happen And if Not Sober In The Mind Trouble Starts Slow Until It Gets Out of Control Then It’s To Late To Change What Has Occured So Being Along You Might Feel Abanet From People But At least You Know That Where You Are At it’s Safe and You Live To See Another Day Or Pick Friends That Don’t Party With Alcohol or Drugs Then You Know It’s A Good Time To Enjoy.👻💯🔥✌️
people are surrounded by others that they don’t know.
Getting Wild And Losing Touch with Reality isn’t Good Cause Lots of Things Can Happen To You Plus If Evil People Are Around They Might Try To Hurt You And Take Advantage Of You When Your Not In Their Right State of Mind I’m Talking By Experience.👻💯🔥✌️
the internet showed us the world and we all took one long look and said ‘nah, im good’
Being alone has helped me realize that I don’t need a lot of the things society says I do. It has made me stronger.
Absolutely spot on my friend 👍
Being alone doesn’t necessarily mean that one is lonely. I just prefer my own company most of the time.
@Grace solace is good 😊💯
so true, i found the same thing, we really dont need all the stuff we think we do. But also where i live, the girls only want a bad boy, no one wants mr normal. so most men are single and most women with kids end up single and struggling… crazy
@David Norman when you realize you don’t need any of it you will become free
I don’t believe
Plutocracy 101
Im from india im also alone
Destruction mere devastation. No Social interaction
الحمد ا لله علي نعمة اسلام ❤
This trend of loneliness calls for return to nature and return to Islam (The true voice of GOD).
Living In Foreign..Away from.their families also suffer from Loneliness..😢
Asperger struggle with social skills.
I’m so happy I made the decision not to have meaningless friendships years ago before this crisis started.
It only affects your health if you care about friendships.
Imran khan zindabad
I am lonely and need help also…Lets chat
I grew up with very friends almost close to none. Now that I am older I am very content. I have one friend and my family are my friends. I have,also learnt that my happiness does not come from anyone. People can disappoint you. The other thing I think people try too hard to fit in thereby attracting the wrong kind of friends. As,a Christian Jesus is my friend.
When my husband died I would never have got through the grief without the Widows groups I joined on Facebook.
If you learning how to live alone you will be stronger
I can’t finish watching this because it relates to me and I’m becoming emotional.
A piece of advice, those who choose their friends over their family will at some point in the future will face this loneliness.
Remember most friends can help to a certain amount but family will never give up on you unless you and your family doesn’t have a heart.
No such thing as loneliness. You are not alone, Allah is with you.
Seek knowledge and keep busy instead of waste time in social media comparing yourself with the rest of the world. Read, Do activities etc don’t you have families? Class mates? Work colleagues? Etc
I have shared this on the community page of my YouTube channel, I have had practically no friends since my late teens. I have one friend since my late 20’s, but I feel more like his carer tbh, as he’s not up to much, so… I had my first ever relationship at 34 too, lasted 6 months, now at 36 I am just doing what I can in my Christian faith. I don’t know what the future holds, but I bless everyone who reads this comment.
For me it’s quite the opposite. I like being alone.
I am facing the same situation
my parents literally called me to watch this with them when this played on tv. it shows that is that bad with me
i luckily have a wife that im crazy about but i see people in my circle that aren’t so fortunate.
honestly being alone is sick. I love it.
The cause of the problem is so clear that the interviewer couldn’t even find people to discuss the matter face-to-face. You can’t talk about loneliness pandemic without talking about smartphone addiction pandemic.
I’m also alone..seriously, the adoption of the social media has hurt interactions and driving issues with isolation
a truthful vid. not many about .
Talk to some elderly people on how to cope with lonelyness
That’s why they talk so much lol
You’re closing advice is “ Call a Friend “ ? Travelling through Madagascar now , street life , kids being kids , people talking to each other , no obesity , fresh organic food everyday. Most people here can’t afford a Smart phone 🙄The reason for being lonely is Social Media , go outside and see a friend and leave your cell behind. Time for a change people . 🙏
Lol anyone wants to be my friend🤭?