The myth of the myth of the loneliness epidemic

In 2023 the U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy warned that loneliness and isolation are an “epidemic," echoing similar cries made since the early 2000s. Since then, some critics have questioned these warnings, claiming they’re misleading. Some have even gone so far as to call the “loneliness epidemic” a “myth.”

Let’s set the record straight.

Whether there is a “loneliness epidemic” depends on how you define “loneliness” and “epidemic.” An “epidemic”, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is “an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area.” And “loneliness,” according to the CDC, is “the feeling of being alone, disconnected, or not close to others.” 

Loneliness, in particular, is ultimately subjective and hard to measure over time. People also conflate it with isolation. While loneliness is a feeling, isolation is a state of “not having relationships, contact with, or support from others.” People can therefore be isolated without feeling lonely, and some people can feel lonely without being isolated.

Given these semantics, some people have a problem with public health officials calling loneliness an epidemic. They question the idea that loneliness can be consistently measured over time, and point to a lack of evidence that there is a sudden rapid increase of it. So they have started calling the “loneliness epidemic” a “myth.”

However, when health experts like the U.S. surgeon general refer to the loneliness epidemic they are often speaking casually, using “epidemic” as a familiar analogy to draw attention to the very real increase in both isolation and feelings of loneliness, as well as a decrease in social connection. In fact, the U.S. surgeon general’s 2023 report on loneliness only refers to loneliness as an epidemic in the title, and not anywhere else in the report. The country’s health organizations never actually classified loneliness as any official “epidemic” in the technical sense, nor has any other global health organization. Instead they use terms like "public health concern" or "public health emergency."

While critics may be justified in questioning the use of the word “epidemic,” data shows that people all around the world, but especially in the United States, are increasingly struggling to maintain social connection, which can be a danger to their health.

Loneliness affects millions: Multiple studies show that many U.S. adults feel lonely. The CDC reports that at least 1 in 3 adults report feeling lonely. A more recent survey from The Cigna Group estimates more than half of U.S. adults feel lonely.

Loneliness and isolation are increasing: The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that reports of loneliness have been increasing since 1976. The Pudding’s 2023 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed Americans have been spending less and less time with friends and family since 2003. 

Loneliness is a health threat: According to the U.S. surgeon general in 2023, lack of social connection can increase the risk of premature death to the same amount as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. It’s also associated with a nearly 30 percent increase in stroke and heart disease risk.

Even the critics concede that these stats point to a real “problem”—and a growing one at that. Calling the problem a “loneliness epidemic” colorfully drives home the point that loneliness and isolation are public health issues that deserve attention. 

It’s quite understandable that some people object to using technical terms like “epidemic” to describe this situation, and that’s why we at Klatchmaker prefer to refer to “The Problem” more generally as a loneliness and isolation crisis or a social connection crisis. While people may still take issue with that, we believe it fairly characterizes the data laid out above.

But whatever you want to call it, it’s clear that there is indeed a concern. People are becoming increasingly detached. 

At the same time, loneliness, isolation and detachment are only parts of the problem. Everyone seeking friends isn’t lonely. But many adults are realizing that finding friends as an adult is hard, whether they are lonely and/or isolated, or not. In addition to helping disconnected people connect, Klatchmaker is just as much about making it easier for all adults to make friends, whether they are lonely, isolated, neurodivergent, new in town, or simply looking to expand their social circle. Our fast-paced, digitally driven world can often add barriers to the friend-making process, and Klatchmaker is carefully designed to eliminate some of them.

Making friends as an adult doesn’t have to be so complicated. We’re here to help.