Is the ‘epidemic of loneliness’ fake news?
UnHerdNov 05, 2020
WHO Declares Loneliness a 'Pressing Health Threat'
The Facts
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness to be a pressing global health threat and launched an international commission to address the problem.
The Commission on Social Connection is co-chaired by US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba and comprises 11 advocates and government ministers.
The Spin
Narrative A
While the health risks of loneliness are real, loneliness isn't a health epidemic or quite the crisis it's cracked up to be. Surveys say young people are the loneliest which has always been the case and doesn't necessarily mean people are getting lonelier. There's insufficient evidence to show a steady trend in loneliness around the world. More solid sociological evidence is needed.
Narrative B
Though we live in the most digitally connected age in the history of civilization, most adults experience loneliness daily due to diminishing real-life social connections. Social isolation and loneliness are important yet neglected determinants of health. Since being socially disconnected is bad for our physical, emotional, and financial health, reversing course needs a strong global effort and this initiative is an important first step.
Nerd narrative
There's a 35% chance that in 2050 at least half of college students in the US will be studying exclusively remotely or online, according to the Metaculus prediction community.