The Age of Loneliness
The world has known different ages, from the stone age to the iron age to the space age to the digital age and to today’s age of social networking. It seems that, in turn, the age of social networking has brought us to the age of social isolation which according to experts is killing us because it is as potent a cause of early death as heavy smoking and obesity
While we can communicate with the world on our various screens, isolation which results in loneliness is rising sharply. Back in 1998 a survey found that increased Internet usage was coinciding with increased loneliness. Today, data points to the fact that loneliness is epidemic despite digital connections. The reason stems from the fact that digital connections do not create bonds and thus there is no emotional relationship. The more digitally connected we are, the lonelier we become.
A 2010 AARP survey found that 35% of adults over 45 were chronically lonely compared to 20% a decade earlier. And that percentage is no doubt ever increasing especially among retired people who live alone and whose families are scattered.
New technologies are luring us to superficial connections. As an example, in the not-too-distant past people had an interaction with the newspaper vendor every day. Today we read the news online by ourselves. We used to browse bookstores to find reading material and get advice and comments through interaction with the knowledgeable staff. Today, our books are on line and read on a screened device without our talking to anyone. We used to interact with sales clerk in stores, now we shop online without going outside. Even grocery shopping has changed. As we scan groceries by ourselves, robots read the codes, add the total and even give us change. All this without our having to say hello or exchange a few words with a clerk.
And then there is social networking like Facebook which results in broader but shallower connections. It has become normal to broadcast what we are doing ever so often, but we are only screen sharing, not sharing with real friends. In fact it interferes with real friendships and distances us from each other.
Because no one can cope alone, television becomes a consolation for many older people which leads to serious chronic conditions. Other data shows that there is a decrease of personal confidants people can turn to for discussing problems or ideas. Back in 2004, we saw that 25% of people had nobody to talk to. What is it today with the digital age getting ever wider?
As we get older, it is important to reach out, find new interests and make new friends. That means we should expand our activities with things such as classes and discussion groups in order to meet new people and share feelings. Volunteering is a marvellous way to expand one’s social network while feeling good about reaching out to those who need it.
