Stating that the sad reality of the modern age is 'Crowded loneliness', Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of the Faculty of Communication, said, 'If we look at Facebook, Instagram, we have hundreds, even thousands of 'friends'. But can these relationships replace a classic friendship? Research suggests that as the bonds we form through screens increase, friendships that require effort and time decrease.'
Prof. Dr. Atalay noted that people sitting side by side on the metro and bus are each engrossed in their own phones, and said, 'In cafes, in restaurants, everyone at the same tables is looking at a separate screen. The loneliness of modern man is a loneliness experienced within crowds, difficult to notice from the outside.'
Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Communication, addressed the issue of social media and loneliness.
Millions of people want to alleviate their loneliness on social media
Emphasizing that there are millions of people who want to alleviate their loneliness on social media, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, 'It's called 'social' media for a reason: platforms that create opportunities for people to come together and do things together… But is that really the case? Or do these platforms deepen our loneliness by making it a little more invisible? In this age woven with social media networks, human bonds have been replaced by 'connections'. If we look at Facebook, Instagram, we have hundreds, even thousands of 'friends'. But can these relationships replace a classic friendship? Research suggests that as the bonds we form through screens increase, friendships that require effort and time decrease.'
People struggle to form real intimacy
Referring to sociologist Sherry Turkle, Prof. Dr. Atalay noted that she defined the modern human condition as 'alone together'. Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'People are constantly connected, but they struggle to form real intimacy. A 'like', an 'emoji', a 'happy birthday' message, but even a half-hour face-to-face conversation can be postponed for years. Messages like 'Let's definitely have coffee sometime' become promises we can never keep. We are in a state of collective effortlessness and weariness regarding human relationships.'
No energy left for deep conversations, long-lasting friendships
Stating that in an age where everything succumbs to speed, relationships also suffer from this pace, Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'We have no time or energy left for deep conversations, long-lasting friendships, or building lasting relationships. Our phone books are full, as are our social media lists, but how many people can we truly call if we suddenly find ourselves in trouble one day?'
Stating that the sad reality of the modern age is 'Crowded loneliness', Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'Psychology literature emphasizes that the numerical abundance of friends on social media platforms does not correspond to qualitative value. According to the famous 'Dunbar's number' theory by Robin Dunbar, a faculty member in the Department of Evolutionary Psychology at Oxford University, the human mind can healthily maintain about 150 social relationships simultaneously. However, our social media profiles have long exceeded this limit. So, we have many names, but only a very few of them are truly 'friends'. Quality is lost in the shadow of quantity.'
Social transformation affects every generation
Noting that interest in social media is not exclusive to younger generations, Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'Even elderly individuals are caught 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, a generation that knew the pleasure of face-to-face conversations, crowded gatherings, hospitality, and neighborliness. Meetings have been replaced by emoji exchanges. In cities, the names of neighbors are often not even known. So, this is not just a Gen Z issue; this is a social transformation.'
The loneliness of modern man is a loneliness difficult to notice from the outside…
Reminding that the Turkish Language Association (TDK) declared 'crowded loneliness' as the word of 2024, Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'On the metro, on the bus, people sitting side by side are each engrossed in their own phones. In cafes, in restaurants, everyone at the same tables is looking at a separate screen. The loneliness of modern man is a loneliness experienced within crowds, difficult to notice from the outside.'
Emphasizing that the importance of physical togetherness has been forgotten and that 'being online at the same time seems sufficient,' Prof. Dr. Atalay stated, 'However, humans, by nature, want to form bonds. Daring to trust, approaching the other, confiding, and feeling human warmth while doing so is more than a preference; it is a necessity.'
A notification sound cannot replace hearing a friend's voice
Also drawing attention to the benefits of social media, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, 'These technologies greatly facilitate communication by removing time and space barriers. New communities are formed through social media. Especially immigrants, minority groups, and marginalized individuals find opportunities for solidarity in online networks. However, for these types of bonds to turn into a lasting and deep relationship, there is still nothing that can replace 'physical' contact, shared spaces, and time spent side-by-side. Internet technology and the social media platforms we access through this technology are beneficial when used to develop human relationships, communicate continuously, and foster intimacy. However, when we consider it as an alternative to face-to-face relationships and turn it into a habit, loneliness emerges. Because no notification sound can replace hearing a friend's voice.'
Loneliness is seen as a serious health risk
Stating that solutions to the problem of loneliness are also being sought on international platforms, Prof. Dr. Atalay reminded of the steps taken by the World Health Organization (WHO) and some countries to combat loneliness.
Prof. Dr. Atalay said, 'The World Health Organization published a new report on loneliness on June 30, 2025. The World Health Organization views loneliness as a serious health risk. The report emphasizes that social isolation and loneliness are widespread and have serious but often unnoticed impacts on health, well-being, and society. Ministries of loneliness have been established in the UK and Japan with the goal of seeking solutions and systematizing services for this issue. These developments show that loneliness has become a social problem, not just an individual one. But it is not unsolvable. Therefore, we need to find ways to come together again and look into each other's eyes, without reducing our relationships with our loved ones to social media follows and emoji exchanges. Because real life flows beyond screens.'