The research paints a bleak picture. Digitally dependent and increasingly deprived of in-person contact, Americans have become an alienated and lonely people. In a world where AI can create a virtual representation indistinguishable from reality, we have lost touch with our humanness, our sense of purpose, and our sense of belonging.
Surveys have shown that millions of people feel lonely, and one-third of Americans say they are lonely virtually all the time. Levels of friendship have dropped sharply over the past three decades; only 25% of people say they have at least six close friends, versus 47% in 1990. A study from Harvard University found that 58% of young adults say their lives hold no meaning or purpose.
While loneliness impacts all age groups, surveys show that younger individuals are especially vulnerable. A 2023 Surgeon General’s Report cited multiple surveys that found people between the ages of 15 and 24 spend 70% less time with friends in person than young people in 2003. Not surprisingly, reports have also shown that Gen Z is twice as likely to report feeling lonely than older generations. But multiple data points also suggest that loneliness transcends age groups. Many people, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity, are isolated and lonely, and this combination is conspiring to undermine our health and well-being.
And perhaps the loneliest group of all: People living with chronic and serious illnesses, restricted by mobility, fragile immune systems, or other limitations that make in-person interactions difficult and sometimes dangerous. Grappling with life-altering illnesses that are often invisible on the outside, this group is at greatest risk for loneliness—and paradoxically may suffer additional health burdens because of it.
Research on the health impacts of loneliness shows that social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, worsen complications of diabetes, and reduce cognitive function as well as increase the risk of dementia in older adults.
Most reports lay much of the blame at the digital doorstep. In his “Parting Prescription for America,” outgoing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy decries what he describes as a “digital trap” that fuels our dissatisfaction, diminishes our self-worth, and renders us less capable and less inclined to strike up conversations, call a friend, or share our personal struggles.
The prescription, according to the report, is community and its ability to foster satisfying relationships, a sense of purpose, and acts of service, large and small. He calls for a cultural shift on what it means to live a satisfying life and charts a course for the individual and societal changes needed to reassert the relevance of community institutions and the trust that one belongs to a larger whole.
It’s nearly impossible to refute both the benefits of community and the deleterious effects of a life dominated by digital experiences. And given the social media landscape that sometimes seems designed to separate more than bring together, it might appear contradictory to propose that the anecdote to today’s loneliness could be found online. Yet a prescription for the loneliness epidemic need not rule out the benefits of online communities. Rather, for millions of people, particularly those living with chronic health conditions, online experiences form a meaningful path to connecting with others and a critical lifeline that helps them feel less isolated and alone.
Surveys have shown that having a chronic illness increases feelings of not belonging or being misunderstood, even among friends, family, and coworkers. Having an online community of peers who “get it,” and who encourage and empower people when symptoms flare or when the complications and challenges of daily life take a toll, can be invaluable.
But while peer-to-peer advice is immensely beneficial for a sense of camaraderie, inaccurate health information dispensed by even the most well-meaning community carries inherent risks. Careful review and moderation of that information by topic experts is both fundamental to an online community’s usefulness and also a delicate balancing act to ensure the integrity of community voices remains intact.
The payoff: Research has shown that online communities that focus on health, and that are accurate and medically vetted while also being welcoming and inclusive, can have a meaningful impact on quality of life and health outcomes, particularly if they go beyond giving people a place to vent. Those that include practical tools and resources can empower people to effectively manage their condition, share their struggles and give them opportunities to support others on a similar journey. A quality online community, bringing together people living with a chronic illness, can make a positive difference in their lives, help them and their caregivers feel less lonely, and inspire and motivate them toward better physical and mental health.
Digital spaces should not replace the richness gained from in-person, face-to-face connections. But in a world where virtual communication is ubiquitous and, in some cases, the only safe option—as it can sometimes be for people with chronic and serious illnesses—online communities are essential. A prescription for the loneliness epidemic needs to incorporate digital experiences, with a focus on creating communities committed to fostering cohesion and connection, along with accurate information, to not only treat the problem of loneliness but help people build satisfying lives—online and off.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
