Psychology: 1000 notifications and still alone

psychology
1000 notifications and still alone – has the internet made us lonelier?

We are always available and can communicate with other people anywhere. Anyone can participate on the Internet, post their opinion or rate content. Nevertheless, there are always studies that find increasing loneliness, especially among the younger generation who use the Internet intensively. Feeling alone despite constant communication and interaction with others. Why is that? And have we really become lonelier?

Who is lonely?

Young and old people are particularly affected. According to a study conducted in 2023 by several universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, there are a number of problems that lead to loneliness. Those who are financially less well positioned, suffer from traumatic experiences, mental illnesses or discrimination, and do not have close friends are more vulnerable. And it has been shown that people who spend a comparatively long time on the Internet are more likely to be lonely than others. This was the result of a survey conducted by the University of Mainz in 2014. No wonder: There are no hugs online, but there are hate messages and content that you rarely encounter so uncensored in the real world. If internet use goes to extremes, it is called an addiction, although it is often unclear whether the loneliness is caused by the addiction or the addiction is caused by the loneliness.

Sometimes less is more

It has also been shown that online and offline friendships have differences in quality. For the people surveyed, it was quality over quantity. Especially on social networks, many people have hundreds or thousands of followers and friends. We communicate and participate every day. Although friendships can also develop, respondents rated these as less intimate and supportive. What was shared in these friendships was also more superficial than those in real life. The friendships with the highest perceived quality were those that had a mix of offline and online communication.

Where is the trend going?

Looking at developments over the last few years, it can be seen that there was a slight decrease in the number of people who felt lonely between 2013 and 2020. However, this number rose sharply due to Corona. The increase in numbers during the pandemic makes it clear that online communication cannot completely replace real friendships.

A complex interaction

Is the internet making us lonelier? This question cannot be answered completely. The pandemic also plays a crucial role in the growing loneliness in Germany. Many factors also influence each other. But one thing is clear: if you spend too much time online, you increase the risk of feeling alone. And even if it seems so from the many notifications, friend requests, messages, likes and comments: the Internet has not made us less lonely.

What does this mean for us?

The Internet can be a good tool for making and maintaining friendships. The Internet offers a good opportunity to interact with others, especially for people who are hardly able to leave their homes due to chronic illnesses or other restrictions. The Internet is also an opportunity for older people to learn new things and network socially. They are often less mobile and can therefore communicate from home.

Do you feel lonely? Here are 3 pieces of advice for you!

Sources used: statista.com, econstor.eu, cyberpsychology.eu, land.nrw, barmer.de, rbb-online.de, ziviz.de

Bridget