Online all the time but many young people are lonely, don't communicate with anyone

More than 50% of teens surveyed said they had gone hours without communicating with anyone, either in person or online.

Many young people say they spend a lot of time on social networks but most of them do not communicate at all - Photo: AFP

Last summer, Laura Marciano, a researcher at Harvard University, studied the link between technology and loneliness in a study involving 500 teenagers who answered questionnaires three times a day for several weeks about their social interactions.

More than 50% of these teens said they had not communicated with anyone for several hours, either in person or online. Despite being on summer vacation and spending a lot of time on social media, most had not communicated at all, according to CNA on November 16.

In late 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a pandemic. Since then, academics and psychologists have focused on the impact technology has had on the problem.

Overall, they agree that while there is not yet much convincing evidence that technology directly causes loneliness, studies have shown a strong correlation between the two, which means that people who feel lonely may be using technology in unhealthy ways.

For example, they are prone to comparing themselves to others on social media, leading to feelings of inferiority.

Additionally, texting can create barriers to authentic connections, and short-form video addiction also causes many people to isolate themselves.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/len-mang-suot-nhung-nhieu-nguoi-tre-co-don-khong-giao-tiep-ai-20241117141030423.htm