I have no one to tell how I feel, Mama.
What about your online friends? Who always praises your pictures and thoughts? Well, I can’t share everything on my feed. I can’t show them what I actually feel. The tiny pause before hitting the post button is just the start of a long journey of loneliness, which can’t be soothed by likes, comments, and reactions. In a world where people have thousands of friends online, they often feel invisible. The paradox is clear: the more connected people are digitally, the more isolated they become emotionally. Maybe they are afraid to overshare, or maybe they are trying to protect their peace. But one thing is certain: they often feel alone after posting, engaging, and talking when they put their mobile phones down. It is a sign of the untold burdens and emotions they carry throughout.
According to the Pew Research Centre (2023), 59% of teenagers feel a sense of emotional loneliness even with a very active social media profile, while 81% confirmed the report by saying, “Our online friends don’t know us the way we are.” Notifications are dopamine; they can’t replace the warm hug of empathy a conversation gives, where you connect emotionally.
Social media connects us to the world but disconnects us from ourselves. We post on social media, and the resulting notifications provide us with a dose of dopamine. In fact, research from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that a screen detox can significantly reduce loneliness and depression. There is pressure to display happiness to conform to the digital narrative. While social media is a bridge of connections, it can’t replace real-world emotional bonds.
The antidote to this loneliness is simple: real presence. A few days ago, my cousin called me and said, “Let’s go on a long drive until we see snow.” Despite my fatigue, I said yes. I sacrificed my sleep, yet that drive was worth it. After two hours, when we saw snow, we parked the car, and there was the prettiest sunset in front of us. The snow-covered peaks, the giant sun, and the stillness of those few hours – I felt understood by the world. On the way back, my cousin and I talked at length about how our plan felt like a whole experience we hadn’t had in years.
Screen-time loneliness has become a societal issue due to the rapid pace of the world, where everything depends on online communication. WHO reports that 45% of young adults feel socially isolated despite having hundreds of friends. They say, “Our social life is bad, and I can’t share my emotions with anyone.” It is a reminder that shared experiences, real conversations, and moments that connect you with nature are far warmer than social media notifications.
While online connectivity is the need of the age, 500 online friends can’t replace an empathetic conversation. A balance is necessary. A walk, a long drive, or a sunset watch can serve as a bridge. Loneliness comes hand in hand with digital presence, as confirmed by the statistics, but real life shared with people or even with nature can heal.