Why social connection is so important for the younger generation

Lara Rodwell is the founder of The Lonely Club and shares her journey of loneliness to connection through instagram. Here she writes about loneliness among her generation and why social connection is so important. 

People aged 19 to 29 are the loneliest age group, perceiving themselves to be more disconnected in their interactions and relationships, according to a study.

In a report published by Meta-Gallup in 2023, data compiled across 142 countries revealed the global state of social connection. 

While 24% of the global population said they felt “very lonely” or “fairly lonely”, according to the data, those aged 19 to 29 reported feeling more lonely than people aged 65 or older.

Ditching the stereotype

‘This research may seem surprising, considering that the stereotype we’ve adopted as a society is that elderly people tend to be the most likely demographic to experience loneliness, depicted in films like “Up” or “A man called Otto”. However, according to the BBC Loneliness Experiment, ‘young people perceive their loneliness as something that can be changed or controlled”, which has created a stigma preventing them from talking about their experiences and seeking help.  

Young people today are in a transitional period of life where there is lots of change, uncertainty and comparison prevalent which has naturally had an effect on the overall mental health of this demographic. From the pandemic, to seeing friends living “perfect” lives on social media, to the cost-of-living crisis having an impact on their ability to live independent lives.  

For example, with less than half (45%) of young adults aged 18 to 34 completely financially independent from their parents, struggles financially not only affects their everyday ability to socialise and seek out new experiences, but their ability to plan for the future. Financial pressures, along with many contributing factors, make it understandable why young people today are notably less happy than older generations. 

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Community to me means that safe space where you can be yourself, as you know you are surrounded by like-minded people

With 39% of young people in London post-pandemic not having the opportunity to meet new people or make friends, it’s become the “norm” for young people to spend their free time alone, in their bedroom – according to the latest “Generation Isolation” report.  

Nowadays, young people (Gen Z and younger millennials) have grown up as “digital natives” where the online world has been their second home for most of their lives. Though there are uplifting cases of technology being used as a creative and positive way of making friends e.g. through friend-making sites like Bumble BFF and Facebook Groups; data continues to back up the fact that the more time that we spend online, the higher risk we are to feelings of loneliness.  

With almost half of British teens admitting that they’re addicted to social media, according to data shared with The Guardian, a large proportion of young people today are glued to their smartphones – and more needs to be done to help them prioritise social connection. 

Prioritising connection

Unfortunately, young people’s developing brains are more susceptible to the addictiveness of social media. “The overuse of social media can actually rewire a young child or teen’s brain to constantly seek out immediate gratification, leading to obsessive, compulsive and addictive behaviors,” says DeAngelis says when explaining why teens are particularly vulnerable to social media addiction.  

On top of this, with social anxiety skyrocketing amongst this age group after the pandemic, social interactions can feel harder for young people today. With research showing that “socially anxious youth described feeling more confident, comfortable, and open in online versus offline interactions”, smartphones have made it easier than ever for young people to avoid social interaction offline to minimise their chances of potential rejection, being judged or criticised.  

Although socialising online and avoiding awkward social situations in real life, may ease anxiety in the short-term, the risk that limited social connection has on their health is huge – with emerging research showing that loneliness and social isolation are associated with an approximately five-fold increase in risk of mortality from suicide – a risk that is much higher amongst younger individuals. 

Why connection is important

It’s clear that social connection is vital to health, happiness and longevity – not just for young people, but those of all ages. Furthermore, the experience of loneliness or isolation has been linked to the onset of other chronic health conditions like diabetes, dementia, alongside mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 

Whilst the potential physical health conditions may not affect young people early on in their lives, it’s clear that the mental health conditions do. A NHS survey showed that one in five children and young people in England aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental health disorder in 2023.  

Young people with mental health challenges can spiral into negative thinking, called cognitive distortions, which makes it harder to connect with others, and consequently their mental wellbeing can become worse. The absence of social connections can contribute to a vicious cycle of social avoidance, isolation and crippling self-esteem. 

In a recent talk on youth well-being, that Dr Vivek Murthy carried out at UCL, the loneliness expert gave 3 changes young people can make for a happier life:

1) spend 15 minutes a day reaching out to someone.

2) Focus on the person you’re with by putting your phone away and giving them your full attention.

3) Do one small act of kindness, like checking your surroundings or helping someone in need. 

The path of social connection

Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in community groups and social incentives across the country that are trying to bridge the disconnect young people feel as they navigate adulthood.  

For example, CLIQ is an app that has been created for young people to meet like-minded people in cities across the country, Truly Twenties is a online platform that has evolved to host events and retreats, and The Great London Friendship Project is a non-profit set up to tackle loneliness among young adults in the city. 

These incentives facilitate a space where young people can start to make meaningful connections with like-minded people. There’s something for everyone, from walking groups, to international retreats to mid-week board game evenings.  

Nicola Gunby, founder of CLIQ, said in a recent interview: “Community to me means that safe space where you can be yourself, as you know you are surrounded by like-minded people.

“It is when you are in a room full of people and you can feel the energy and buzz in the air and then walk away from that experience feeling good and having multiple new connections.”