A new report by the WHO Commission on Social Connection on a once-taboo subject, loneliness, is deeply disturbing.
Titled “From Loneliness to Social Connection: Charting a Path to Healthier Societies,” the report reveals that 16 per cent of the world’s eight billion people are trapped in loneliness.
The consequences are severe. Loneliness increases the risk of premature death to a degree comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The report draws attention to the fact that one in four adults now suffers from social isolation, making loneliness a widespread and debilitating reality.
It estimates that 871,000 people die from loneliness each year, a staggering figure. Loneliness can trigger a vicious cycle of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, leading to suicide, poor sleep, diminished mental and physical abilities, and weakened immune systems.
Loneliness is caused by several factors, including low income and education, living alone, inadequate community infrastructure and public policies, and the use of digital technologies. People in disadvantaged groups may find it hard to make meaningful connections.
Worse still, loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline, which can lead to anxiety, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and premature death.
Importantly, loneliness is not a personal failing; it is a universal human experience that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, background, or social status. Social isolation can foster feelings of abandonment, disconnection, low self-esteem, and rejection.
The increased use of technology has widened the distance between social interactions, even among family members. It is now common for people in the same room to be absorbed in their devices, sacrificing genuine social engagement.
Heavy reliance on social media, where users may have hundreds of friends or millions of followers, can foster a false sense of connection and hinder meaningful relationships. Disturbingly, there have been cases of individuals taking their own lives after being harassed or falsely labelled online.
According to the report, loneliness is linked to an estimated 100 deaths per hour. It recommends that stronger social connections can promote better health and a longer life.
As WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, notes: “In this age when the possibilities to connect are endless, more and more people are finding themselves isolated and lonely. Apart from the toll it takes on individuals, families, and communities, left unaddressed, loneliness and social isolation will continue to cost society billions in terms of health care, education, and employment.”
The study finds that between 17 and 21 per cent of individuals aged 13–29 report feeling lonely, with the highest rates among teenagers. In low-income countries, about 24 per cent report loneliness, twice the rate found in high-income countries (about 11 per cent).
This is especially alarming given that young people are still navigating education, work, relationships, and other formative experiences, often under the guidance of parents or guardians.
Many young people turn to social media seeking comfort and friendship, but often become more isolated from family and friends, and are exposed to online predators, sextortionists, human traffickers, and other exploiters.
In 2009, Pope Benedict advised Catholics to put away phones during meals and talk to each other, expressing concern that electronic devices were eroding family bonds: “I ask myself if you, in your family, know how to communicate or are you like those kids at meal tables where everyone is chatting on their mobile phone… where there is silence like at a mass, but they don’t communicate.”
This issue extends to meetings, faith gatherings, and social events, where organisers now routinely ask attendees to turn off their phones to foster real connections.
Even marriages are affected: couples may share a bed but remain oblivious to each other, absorbed in their screens.
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