Highlighting the sad reality of the modern age, which she described as “crowded loneliness,” Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Communication, said, “If we look at Facebook or Instagram, we appear to have hundreds or even thousands of ‘friends.’ But can these relationships really replace genuine friendship in the traditional sense? Research shows that as our screen-based connections increase, friendships that require time and effort are steadily declining.”
Prof. Atalay pointed out that in the subway or on the bus, people sit side by side but are each focused on their own phones. “In cafés and restaurants, people sit at the same table yet each looks at a different screen. The loneliness of modern humans is one that is lived within crowds and is difficult to notice from the outside,” she said.
Prof. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Communication, addressed the topic of social media and loneliness.
Millions seek to ease their loneliness through social media
Drawing attention to the millions who turn to social media to ease their loneliness, Prof. Atalay said, “As the name suggests, it is called social media, platforms that supposedly bring people together and create opportunities for shared experiences. But do they really? Or are these platforms actually deepening our loneliness by making it less visible? In this age woven with social networks, genuine human bonds have been replaced by mere connections. We might have hundreds or even thousands of friends on Facebook or Instagram, but can those ties truly replace friendship? Studies indicate that as our online connections multiply, friendships that demand time, attention, and emotional investment have become rarer.”
People struggle to build real closeness
Referring to sociologist Sherry Turkle, Prof. Atalay noted that Turkle describes the condition of modern humans as “alone together.” She said, “People are constantly connected but find it hard to build real intimacy. A ‘like,’ an emoji, or a ‘happy birthday’ message often replaces a half-hour face-to-face conversation that gets postponed for years. ‘Let’s grab a coffee sometime’ has turned into an empty phrase we rarely fulfill. We are collectively fatigued and indifferent when it comes to genuine human connection.”
No energy left for deep conversations or lasting friendships
Commenting on how the culture of speed has consumed every aspect of life, Prof. Atalay said, “We live in an era where everything bows to speed, and our relationships are no exception. We no longer have the time or energy for deep conversations, lasting friendships, or meaningful connections. Our phonebooks are full, our social media lists even fuller, but if we suddenly found ourselves in trouble, how many people could we truly call?” Reiterating that “crowded loneliness” is one of the most distressing truths of our time, Prof. Atalay explained, “Psychological studies emphasize that the numerical abundance of online friends does not translate into qualitative depth. According to the famous Dunbar Number theory by Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary psychology at Oxford University, the human brain can maintain stable social relationships with roughly 150 people at once. Yet our social media profiles have far surpassed that number. In other words, we have plenty of names, but only a few are real friends. Quantity has overshadowed quality.”
Social transformation affects every generation
Stating that the fascination with social media is not limited to younger generations, Prof. Gül Esra Atalay said, “Even older adults have been swept up in the flow of social media. This is particularly surprising because we are talking about a generation that spent most of its life without the internet, one that knows the pleasure of face-to-face conversations, crowded gatherings, and neighborhood visits. These encounters have been replaced by exchanges of emojis. In cities, people often do not even know their neighbors’ names. So this is not just a Generation Z issue; it is a social transformation.”
The loneliness of modern humans is hard to notice from the outside
Recalling that the Turkish Language Association (TDK) chose “crowded loneliness” as the word of the year for 2024, Prof. Atalay said, “On the subway and on the bus, people sit side by side, each buried in their own phone. In cafés and restaurants, everyone at the same table looks at a different screen. The loneliness of modern humans is a kind of solitude that exists within crowds and is difficult to notice from the outside.”
Emphasizing that the importance of physical togetherness has been forgotten and that “being online at the same time feels as if it is enough,” Prof. Atalay said, “However, human beings are naturally driven to form connections. To trust, to reach out to others, to open up, and to feel human warmth while doing so are not merely choices; they are needs.”
A notification sound cannot replace a friend’s voice
Drawing attention to the benefits of social media as well, Prof. Gül Esra Atalay said, “These technologies remove barriers of time and space and make communication much easier. Social media allows the creation of new communities. In particular, migrants, minority groups, and marginalized individuals can find solidarity through online networks. However, there is still nothing that can truly replace physical contact, shared spaces, and time spent together if these connections are to become lasting and deep relationships. When we use internet technology and social media platforms to strengthen human relationships, communicate consistently, and build sincerity, they are beneficial. But when we begin to see them as an alternative to face-to-face interaction and turn that into a habit, loneliness emerges. No notification sound can ever replace hearing the voice of a real friend.”
Loneliness is now considered a serious health risk
Noting that the problem of loneliness is being addressed on international platforms, Prof. Atalay recalled the steps taken by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several countries to combat loneliness. She said, “On June 30, 2025, the World Health Organization released a new report on loneliness. The WHO considers loneliness a serious health risk. The report highlights that social isolation and loneliness are widespread and have significant but often overlooked effects on health, well-being, and society. In both the United Kingdom and Japan, ministries of loneliness have been established to find solutions and systematize services addressing this issue. These developments show that loneliness has become a social problem rather than merely an individual one. But it is not an unsolvable problem. This is why we need to find ways to reconnect, to look into each other’s eyes again, without reducing our relationships with loved ones to social media follows or emoji exchanges. Real life is happening beyond the screens.”