Agree wholeheartedly with this. Maybe a decade ago, the internet wasn't as toxic to the mind as it is now, especially when the net sphere was full of niche hobby forums and chatrooms as opposed to social media and internet presence being a requirement for many workplaces and aspects of life.
When I was growing up, the main thing the people around me used the internet for was printing off directions from the map, games, auctions, and forums. It seemed like the culture of the internet as a whole had more soul to it, while now the entire thing is a giant billboard ad for the influencer of the day, all homogenised, corporate slop. Paradoxically, things meant to bring people together like social media actually tore the fabric of society apart.
There is so much hostility and loneliness in the world today. While I think other factors do certainly play a role in why more people are miserable today, I think the lack of socializing and lack of community/social cohesion is probably one of the key reasons, if not the biggest contributor imo. Not only do people stay indoors more, don't go out as much, and stick to solitary activities, but it seems like many younger people especially in Gen Z are completely addicted to the internet and have very little regard for other people unless it's a trendy cause on social media to be flaunted for clout.
People don't know their neighbours anymore in many western countries, they don't know the names and faces of the fellow humans in their communities, everyone is a stranger to each other at best, or a potential danger at worst. Promoting an atomised, individualised society as the way to live ultimately ends in palpable isolation. Nowadays, many people have the attitude that those around them are not even entitled to the slightest bit of kindness, everyone is trying to "get theirs" so to speak and acts as if the wellbeing of others is inconsequential.
Not only are there very few ways to organically meet people in the real world, but if you do manage to meet new people and try to make friends, the social dynamics are so fucked that there's a high chance nothing will come out of that initial interaction. Because of social media, people want to present a glamorized, perfect life to the public, it's either all picturesque travel and food photos or sarcastic memes on everyone's pages, there is never any vulnerability, sincerity, or depth. It's all surface level nonsense most of the time. Making close friendships can be a herculean task.
Despite there being such an influx of loneliness creeping up on adults now, there is also still so much absurd judgement from those who do have their social needs met, who pretend this is not a widespread societal problem and always blame the individual. Oh, you just need to try harder and get out more, just go to a gym, take a class, you're not trying! Yet, those people dishing out the advice usually have long term friendships since their school days and robust family support. They don't realize how completely isolated many adults are once they leave education behind enter the workforce.
With social media one click away, every interaction can be scrutinized, filmed, documented, and dissected under a microscope. One post or interaction can have disastrous consequences. It's not unheard of for people to get photographed having a wild night out and get sacked if someone takes a picture of the employee playing beer pong or wearing a revealing outfit. Live to work, with no outlet for relaxation and play. Conversations, photos, videos, etc can all be leaked at any time if someone hates you enough. There's no real privacy, and everyone is expected to morph into a bland professional persona at a certain stage in their life, with no personality other than being a corporate drone, with a faux morally righteous persona.
It's no wonder life loses it's meaning for so many people nowadays, when the expectation is to work and then sit alone all the time. I saw an extremely depressing post the other day where a man who just hit his 30s and graduated from a post grad degree asked if he could still attend some university societies for hobbies after his graduation (as there were no other groups in his area for certain activities) and many commenters jumped the gun accusing him of being a "nonce" and a freak, telling him he needed to grow up. If the idea of a 30 year old being "too old" to have any hobbies except going to the gym or talking to other adults in a shared interest group is seen as creepy and scandalous, we have lost the plot as a society.
So many people have no real friends or connections, no one to count on, and then if you go online lamenting this all you get is the canned response that there's no loneliness epidemic, you just need to go to the gym more and embrace staring at your four walls. Also, there are unprecedented rates of Autism with the numbers climbing every year. For each one of us that gets diagnosed, comes the realization that there will be a lifetime of social struggles and rejection. Suicidal ideation and self harm is extremely common for us autistic people.
