Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, noting that artificial intelligence can say all the words people want to hear in the context of social support during crisis situations, said, “People preferring long-term communication with artificial intelligence instead of humans will deepen loneliness even further, as is the case with social media.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, also pointing to the results of a large-scale study conducted in the UK, stated, “Loneliness can lead to worse outcomes for human health than obesity, can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent, and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, and anxiety.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, Faculty Member of the Department of Sociology at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, evaluated the increasing feeling of loneliness among youth in the digital age.
Chronic loneliness is increasing among youth!
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that the feeling of chronic loneliness has increased especially among youth worldwide in recent years, saying, “The scale of the problem is surprisingly high. In the United Kingdom, 3.8 million people suffer from chronic loneliness; in the USA, 36 percent of adults and 61 percent of young people experience severe loneliness. In a study conducted across Germany in March 2024 with a sample of 2,532 initiated by the German Bertelsmann Foundation, almost half (46 percent) of the young people aged 16-30 surveyed stated that they felt lonely.”
There are young people who even forget to greet their close circles…
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı noted that according to the results of comprehensive loneliness research they conduct annually across Turkey, 40 percent of young people aged 18-24 and 26 percent of individuals over 55 reported feeling lonely frequently, and continued:
“When the change in the feeling of loneliness across age groups is examined compared to 2021, an increase in the feeling of loneliness is observed in all groups above 25 years old compared to 2021. Generally, digital technology addiction is said to increase loneliness, but other factors are also effective. Lack of social environment due to the intensity of school and work life, the pressure to always get the highest grades in education and to be the best young person in the family are also factors that deprive young people of socialization and trigger their loneliness. On the other hand, due to the constantly protective attitudes of contemporary parents, young people grow up with an egocentric understanding, making it difficult for them to communicate. Unfortunately, we have young people who even forget to greet each other and their close circles. This situation deepens young people’s feeling of loneliness as it prevents them from forming healthy relationships.”
They don't want to spend time and effort on real meetings…
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı emphasized that social media, widely used by young people, is seen as both a means of socialization and a cause of loneliness, depending on how it is used. He said, “Excessive use of the internet and social media, especially among young people, leads to a decrease in face-to-face communication in real social relationships and, consequently, social isolation. The inability to be physically together and superficial communication forms occurring through short messages and emojis on social media further trigger the feeling of loneliness. Many young people don’t even want to spend time and effort on real meetings; even romantic relationships today occur through dating sites. Research also shows that young people who use social media more frequently have higher levels of loneliness. There is a two-sided effect here. They state that just as loneliness increases social media usage, excessive orientation towards social media can also increase loneliness.”
Long-term communication with artificial intelligence deepens loneliness…
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı noted that young people trying to overcome loneliness within the new socialities created by social networks can become even lonelier, and continued:
“An increase in social isolation can also lead to alienation over time and cause the individual to feel lonelier. Besides social media, another current topic related to loneliness is artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence technologies are also a rapidly developing new phenomenon that can communicate and simulate human emotions well today. Nowadays, when we talk about our relationship problems to AI tools and say we feel very bad, ChatGPT, for example, can respond to us with great compassion. In the context of social support, it can say all the words people want to hear. Therefore, in the near future, during crisis moments when both young people and other age groups feel they have no one left to turn to, artificial intelligence can be seen as a temporary solution. Some experts even suggest that, based on the approach that decreased self-confidence in humans increases loneliness, AI can help 'break this cycle' by giving people the opportunity to practice and develop their social skills. However, moderation is important here too. Because people preferring long-term communication with artificial intelligence instead of humans will deepen loneliness even further, as is the case with social media.”
Lonely young people are more likely to be unemployed and uneducated
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı also drew attention to the long-term effects of loneliness on young people's social skills, academic achievements, or career goals, stating, “Research shows that lonely young people are more likely to be unemployed or uneducated, see themselves as less able to work, and are lower on the social ladder compared to their more socially successful peers. British scientists from King's College London and Greenwich University, as a result of a long-term study conducted on a large sample group, revealed that loneliness in early adolescence weakens an individual's future socio-economic status. Researchers followed the development of 2,232 individuals born in England and Wales between 1994 and 1995. Loneliness levels and social status of individuals at ages 12, 18, and 26 were evaluated. Participants' employment status and employability were assessed at age 18. Although loneliness has a clear impact on mental health from an early age, the research also found that loneliness negatively affects an individual's employment opportunities.”
Loneliness is worse than obesity!
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, also pointing to the conclusion of the research, said, “The takeaway here is that loneliness can have indirect consequences on an individual’s ability to compete in the labor market. This not only reduces an individual’s life chances but also directly harms the economy. Furthermore, it revealed that loneliness can lead to worse outcomes for human health than obesity, can increase the risk of premature death by 26 percent, and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, and anxiety. Social connections are vital for young people. They are key to their harmonious development. High mental functions develop in principle through interaction with other people. Without communication and intellectual stimulation, they can even atrophy.”
It is recommended to do beloved activities more often…
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı also offered recommendations to young people to reduce the feeling of loneliness, saying, “Whether we want it or not, we all face feelings of loneliness at intense or low levels. This feeling can appear suddenly or be our constant companion. In any case, it is very important to detect this factor in time. Strengthening social connections, focusing attention on other people and the outside world, keeping relationships with close circles, family, and friends vibrant, sports and hobby activities with close friends, and doing beloved activities more often are methods recommended by experts to avoid or overcome the feeling of chronic loneliness. One should also not hesitate to seek help from psychologists and psychotherapists to minimize the harmful effects of social isolation. Often, to not feel lonely, a person just needs to make their voice heard.”