It’s Time to Cross the Street, Folks: An Epidemic of Loneliness and Its Effect on Polarization

“Social connection is as essential to humanity as food, water, or shelter.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy rang the alarm this week about an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” The health effects of loneliness are well documented. But the impacts of loneliness are not just physical or mental; they are societal, too, and can lead to an increase in toxic polarization.

While loneliness is experienced on an individual level, it’s caused by much larger structural problems and creates real social challenges and societal consequences. Lonely people feel insecure, and loneliness builds on itself. It causes us to isolate, and when you’re lonely for a long time, your levels of anxiety, insecurity, and fear increase. Fear is one of the main drivers of toxic polarization.

Americans have shed many of our traditional tribes. American families have shrunk in size. The nature of work and the workplace, which has been one of the key sources of our friendship and community in the past, has changed. Now, in place of those former tribes and in search of new ones, we’ve accelerated dividing ourselves along political and socio-ideological lines. We have traded community relations and ideologically diverse friend groups for silos, which are social bubbles of like-minded people who share our political views.

Social media has played a role as an accelerant in this process, as we reach out for connection and algorithms sort us into ever more specific communities by our “likes.” In these “safe” spaces, our beliefs are not challenged by different points of view. This has resulted in an embrace of the “us vs. them” mentality so intense that many believe the opposing party’s policies “threaten the nation’s well-being.”

A wide and diverse social network is key for our mental, physical, and societal well-being. Taking the effort to cross the street and make social connections that are diverse, introduce us to new ideas, and challenge the ways we think are key to overcoming the ills of loneliness… and polarization.

Here are some suggestions from the U.S. Surgeon General that can help you combat toxic division and loneliness:

Diversify your connections: Combating isolation and avoiding echo chambers starts with expanding your social network and listening to different points of view and opinions. Try volunteering to help your community, joining a fitness or health group, or taking an interesting class. All of these will allow you to interact with people who might have different ideas and opinions than you in places where those differences are not the most important part of your interaction.

Make sure your social connections are healthy: Learn about constructive conflict resolution, how to socialize away from technology or social media, and how to build healthy friendships.

Renew old relationships: Take time to reach out to friends and family members, not just the ones you agree with, but the ones you disagree with as well. Invest time in nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent, and high-quality engagement.

Avoid spending harmful time on social media. Excessive time spent in front of screens can lead to you feeling disconnected from others.

• Diversify your connections: Combating isolation and avoiding echo chambers starts with expanding your social network and listening to different points of view and opinions. Try volunteering to help your community, joining a fitness or health group, or taking an interesting class. All of these will allow you to interact with people who might have different ideas and opinions than you in places where those differences are not the most important part of your interaction.
• Make sure your social connections are healthy: Learn about constructive conflict resolution, how to socialize away from technology or social media, and how to build healthy friendships.
• Renew old relationships: Take time to reach out to friends and family members, not just the ones you agree with, but the ones you disagree with as well. Invest time in nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent, and high-quality engagement.
• Avoid spending harmful time on social media. Excessive time spent in front of screens can lead to you feeling disconnected from others.