Social networks are not blamed for the level of epidemic loneliness |

"We should all spend more time together," is the latest conclusion after the researchers examined 20,000 people over the age of 18, asking 20 questions about anxiety, depression, and depression. solitude . The questions are based on the UCLA solitude scale, and consider such factors as the alienation of society.

Researchers from global health care company Cigna, in collaboration with research partner Ipsos, say that there is no connection between the use of social networks and feelings of Isolation and loneliness . The study, as the researchers pointed out, revealed that adults reach the "epidemic level" of loneliness . Of the respondents, 46% said that "sometimes" or "always" felt lonely, and 47% said they felt rejected by others .

The same report underlined the underlying cause of the problem . It is not a matter of abusing the phone or constantly checking the profiles on social networks, although such behavior definitely causes other problems like dependency. Instead, according to the research, more than half did not have enough significant interactions during the day . The data show that younger generations tend to suffer from this problem than others. Cigna examined people aged 18 to 22 and found that among them, there is the most solitary of 48.3% who is the largest of all age groups.

showed that is the same for people using social networks (43%) and for those who never use social networks (41%) . These results are in contrast to the popular opinion on the use of social networks and their negative effects on society and how they move us away from social circles. On the one hand, some experts have argued that our social networks make us feel more isolated because we are constantly compared to others. Those who are constantly posting on Facebook and Instagram share their best moments of life – for Generation Z, it means earning the most points on the test or a happy moment at a party with friends. In the past, there was a presumption that it creates a sense of isolation.

On the other hand, we have experts who defend the idea that with the help of social networks we feel more connected and we feel less isolated . Friends are always a click away, either by correspondence or through the feeders we know personally. Of course, we all know that the definition of "friends" has changed in recent years and that we have begun to compare with people we rarely see or do not even know personally, thus strengthening relationships with foreigners.

However, Cigna's study does not support one or the other of these two paragraphs but has a third explanation. Social networks do not nourish or destroy our relationships that is, they have no influence whatsoever. What is really missing in our lives is a meaningful conversation with others, and social networks are not a factor here. Maybe we will check Instagram because we feel isolated and do not spend time with people, but this same Instagram feed does not really cause isolation. Other factors may also exist, such as too much work, insufficient sleep, insufficient physical activity and lack of time with the family.

Social networks are probably a symptom of the problems we face, but not the real cause, which means that they have been unjustly blamed for a long time. We stupidly go through our food while we sit in cafes, but something goes further here, which is not a numerical problem, but the fact that we are working more than ever (19459004) for example, the digital nomads) and we sleep less

The solution to many of these problems is not to leave social networks, but rather Facebook, Instagram and other platforms are considered ordinary tools . The correct answer is not "delete your account" – it's already invest in people, select activities that promote more interactions then serve social networks as a tool help in the process. We should stop blaming the addiction on the phone and social networks as the underlying cause. They are just signs of a basic epidemic making bad choices in personal contacts, and the phrase "we should go out more" seems like a good answer.