Loneliness increases in younger generation

     There’s an epidemic happening. A loneliness epidemic. 

     Loneliness is more about how people think about their circumstances rather than their actual circumstances. It’s a discrepancy between what people want from their relationships and their perception of those relationships. It’s different from just being alone, it’s a numbing feeling of social isolation formed from negative interpretations of social interactions.

     A nationwide study done by Cigna, a global health service company, revealed that two in five Americans sometimes or always feel isolated from others and believe their relationships don’t mean anything.   

     Furthermore, one in four Americans rarely or never feel like there are people that truly understand and connect with them. One group, in particular, stands out as being the loneliest: Generation Z. Individuals belonging to Gen Z scored a 48.3 on the loneliness test also conducted by Cigna; significantly higher than the older generations.

     Researchers believe levels of loneliness are on the rise because younger people are choosing to focus more on work, living farther away from their family and loved ones, and are relying on social media interactions instead of talking to others face-to-face. 

     However, social media appears to be the main culprit for feelings of isolation in Gen Z, as the younger generation spends the most time on social networking apps. Skeptics claim the opposite should be happening, believing that social media has broadened the range of who they can talk to. The world is more connected than ever, right? Over 3.6 billion people worldwide actively engage in social networking.

     Not necessarily. Officials say being able to hide behind a screen facilitates false interactions since teens only show what they want others to see when sending streaks over Snapchat or posting a selfie on Instagram. This makes it difficult to form genuine connections with others, as others will only perceive the personality being shown to them. The connection is superficial here. 

     They don’t see unique characteristics, which prevents tight-knit bonds like the ones shared with family from forming. Adolescents are also more likely to guard what they say or send because they worry others will screenshot it to use it against them later on. In short, social media provides the perfect route for teens to hide and isolate themselves while under the false impression that they’re getting enough socialization.

     Lonely people are shown to have a tendency to compare themselves to others. In fact, constantly drawing comparisons between themselves and the people they idolize is what makes them believe others don’t want to spend time with them. 

     It injures their self-confidence to the point they’re not comfortable in their own skin around others. In the end, this makes teens more likely to reject invitations to go out, and it’s this constant cycle of shying farther and farther away that will effectively isolate them from the people they could’ve made a connection with. 

     Using social media only exuberates this process of despairing self-criticism, because there’s constant exposure to photos of beautiful models, people traveling the world, and success stories that sound impossible to reach.