We need social connection for our survival: Surgeon General on risks of loneliness

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy joins Morning Joe to discuss why he says rebuilding social connections must be a top public health priority.
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We need social connection for our survival: Surgeon General on risks of loneliness
#SocialAnxiety #Health #Loneliness

[@ryn8101]

coming home from a doctor's appt, an older woman stopped me on my way to my car to tell me the name of some of the flowers growing nearby. it caught me completely off guard but it also made me really happy for a reason I couldn't place. we didn't know each other and I doubt we'll ever see each other again but now I know the name of that flower

[@bertgoat8183]

That’s amazing

[@jenniferd264]

I can safely say you made her day by listening! She too is undoubtedly very lonely and alone. Thank you for taking the time to share in conversation with her!

[@SeaTurtle515]

A fees years back I was going through some significant feelings of loneliness and I heard a TED talk about the subject that significantly improved my loneliness. Basically it boiled down to trying to have 3 conversations with 3 different people a day. They don’t need to be long or in depth, but it’s something about engaging with another face and haveing a bit of back and forth, that seems to lift a persons spirits out of melancholy and in my case, actually made me feel so much better that I once again started seeking more engagement and interaction with other humans. Before I knew it, my loneliness was pretty much gone.

[@bbgen-sp6ns]

The more you talk to Peoples , the more you find out peoples are annoying. Especially peoples with kids. A dog is much better companionship

[@kevinc8955]

@@bbgen-sp6ns LOL I have friends with kids and you just have to set the boundary of your friendship around that. Don’t accept invites for 9 year olds birthday parties. Usually they like it. You become the friend they hang out with when they want to forget their crippling responsibilities, which means you usually get the more fun version of them.

[@chelseacraft4669]

Or just get pets. I won’t catch Covid & die from my pets. They don’t pose a risk to my life like humans do.

[@SeaTurtle515]

Just thought I’d share this. It helped me, maybe it can help a few others. Whatever we need to do for good mental health, we should do. 😊

[@whiteknob7944]

Lol. Ted talk. We call you gullible.

[@user-fed-yum]

This is what happens when a country promotes an individualistic culture as it's ideal. Tech is not the cause, just a useful tool to support this American culture. How could anyone fathom any outcome other than loneliness would prevail? How could this have been missed by the the guest? 🧑‍⚕️🇺🇸

[@TooBadThatDidntKillMe]

Social connections in a society where people feel emboldened to be openly sociopathic and sadistic. Yeah.

[@mikebrigs1218]

LIKE YOU ??

[@Milaperadotti]

People that don’t like to have relationships with other people are considered sociopaths

[@TooBadThatDidntKillMe]

​@friendofcheapergas5103 Soo why are you here?

[@TransexualChrist-]

​@Friendof Cheapergas 👈🤪buhurrrr berrdee duhhhmmDerp 👈🤪Puhhhhh

[@mikebrigs1218]

@Friendof Cheapergas LOL.

[@dumpd6227]

Why wouldn’t people be lonely when most spend more time working and leaving vacation days unused.

[@russellzauner]

^^^^^^ this person gets it this clip was full of more crap than a crap farm "stop being independent" "be more productive" They don't want the cogs to realize that they really would like to start wealth extraction back up in earnest now that workers can go back to their labors in whatever equivalent the regional local salt mine is. I was more lonely when I was working and socializing than after I became a disabled shut in...

[@Frank-oz8be]

vacation days sounds like a leftover remnant of boomer economics before they voted for neoliberal fascism

[@ilovebanks1526]

Byproduct of our culture. Work and money is the most important thing because it really is. Have to pay to play. No money, no life. You have to work to live and live to work. No time for friends. The little money we have, we don't want to spend on others and going out. Other people aren't trust worthy. Most young people don't even have homes, a space of their own to have friends and connections. People have lost faith in the system and don't want to feed into it. Everyone is disillusioned with our countries, governments, systems. Happiness and quality of life is not important to our governments, we're just tax cash cows. Increasing wealth inequality, decreased quality of life has gone on for decades now among other social issues.. if they cared, it wouldn't keep progressing and keep going unaddressed and unchallenged. You get out what you put into your citizens and this is the result. Stress and decreased quality of life seems to be by design at this point.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

It is better to be alone than in the company of bad men-George Washington

[@kevinc8955]

What a dumb comment from someone I suspect from the trailing digits of your username may be around the same age as me (44). Maybe turn off the news if you think your fellow citizens are your enemies because you’re becoming a scared old man.

[@jonasbaine3538]

Trouble is bad men can never be alone. They always seek company to join their misery or search for ways to bring others down. Good men can be alone happily.

[@luannsuekindem7377]

Many of us can be in a group and still feel lonely.

[@abhi739]

yes because in group conversations are usually controlled by the stronger ego, its important theres 1 person who hears everyone

[@breal7277]

American individualism is a double edge sword...it cuts both ways. When I retire, I plan to live in a society that values human connections more than money.

[@Frank-oz8be]

Im planning on leaving well before retirement. It feels like older people and rich people and homeowners are actively hostile to me and my generation.

[@breal7277]

@@Frank-oz8be I hear Denmark and Finland are good places to live. So is Spain and Portugal if you prefer a warm climate.

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

Exactly

[@Milaperadotti]

We need in person relationships not just online.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Some people want to be alone. And they have a right to be left alone. They don't need this guy telling them they're wrong or sick.

[@TransexualChrist-]

​@Friendof Cheapergas 👈🤪buhrrr dee derrrrrrhh

[@mikebrigs1218]

OR ELSE THEY HANG OUT HERE ALL DAY YELLING ABOUT TRUMP. LOL.

[@TransexualChrist-]

@@mikebrigs1218 👈🤪YELLZ ALL DAY N NITE ABOUT BIDEN DURRRRRHHHHH

[@DarthSailorMoo]

@@yvonneplant9434 Being alone sure does seem healthy for you /sarcasm.

[@sharonloves]

Wow, such a powerful discussion that affects so many silently. This rebuilding of community is vital. I feel that the political climate has forged such a wedge of distrust and hate in average folk who all want the same thing, safety, a home, food and good health. We are all more alike than not and it’s time we United and care for one another. Peace and blessings to all.❤

[@smartist-witin-Kintuckey]

imagine orchestrating a lockdown and now worrying about people being lonely

[@b.t.2795]

Winston busy old spinster. 👵

[@RichardQuaid]

They did it worldwide. It was a terrible thing to have to do but it was necessary. In this country people didn't even have enough sense to wear masks. Our healthcare system wasn't designed to care for so many sick at once. I can't imagine why we haven't addressed that.

[@mnoir8888]

It’s called a PANDEMIC.

[@The2ndFirst]

@@mnoir8888 It's called a"scamdemic"

[@The2ndFirst]

@@RichardQuaid It was completely NOT necessary to destroy so many lives over nothing. Did you take one of those two vaccines that they tried to force on everyone? The ones that aren't even on the market anymore?

[@RP4402rp]

Everyone is wired differently. You can live alone, and not experience loneliness.

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

Thats probably why loneliness is a big issue

[@maarifa4772]

Are you one of them? choose to live alone?

[@RWSCOTT]

social media also feeds a vacuum of self-expression. it's much easier to copy & paste popular statements/media we agree with, rather than write what we ourselves feel. when that becomes habit, it makes for a very noisy kind of silence.

[@russellzauner]

lol this clip was full of more crap than a crap farm "stop being independent" "be more productive" They don't want the cogs to realize that they really would like to start wealth extraction back up in earnest now that workers can go back to their labors in whatever equivalent the regional local salt mine is.

[@DannyD-lr5yg]

“Noisy silence” is spot on. Thank you

[@noshow22]

*Forces quarantine for 2 years* "We've become a lonely nation!"

[@trixie9777]

😂😂 👍🏼 good one!

[@Frank-oz8be]

Its been ongoing for more than 2 years

[@markbrock8662]

Weren't you guys the champions of quarantine isolation?

[@PumpkinMozie]

This was an issue even before that though. The pandemic made it slightly worse but if you ask me the big cause is the internet. It’s making us all more connected and yet way more isolated.

[@TraceurDoc1]

Quarantine had very little to do with this. It’s social media.

[@Americasinertia]

​@@PumpkinMozie just the simple minded. Mostly communist blue sheep

[@brandonwilliams6221]

Whataboutism. What does that have to do with this video? Oh wait, you didn’t watch it all the way through.

[@Zombied77]

Yup they were

[@janiekcarney5482]

Talking is not going to help. You have no plan. No solutions.

[@Frank-oz8be]

We need walkable, pedestrian friendly / automobile hostile communities, with affordable housing/apartments, the abolishment of landlordism, increase in wages in response to inflation and the decommodification of public spaces, and an increased investment in trains

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

Yeah exactly

[@edkrassenstein5534]

Weird, because I could have sworn MSNBC was one of the networks telling me never to leave my house for my own safety just a couple years ago.

[@QuestioningYourSanity]

This is the "third place" problem. The idea that people don't have a place to associate with other people outside of work or home. Back in the day it used to be Elks lodges or the bowling league. These are mostly gone, which is fine but there is no functional replacement for most people.

[@kevinc8955]

Yeah, this is true. It’s worse with younger generations. There no mall hangouts for kids because malls are dead. The basketball court by my house is empty year round and there’s dozens of kids who live around here. The courts (multiple) were packed when I was a kid, so much so that there was an honor system reserve chalkboard hung up on the gate. We had public pools and parks, all empty now. Kids just play on their phones and call that living. They are in for a HORRIBLE realization when they get old that the best years of their life were spent with videogames and forums rather than real people.

[@TruthAdv]

I'd love to have a third place to go meetup with friends, but inflation has definitely made that less possible. Going out for brunch or dinner has become way too expensive to do it as regular thing. Lack of good transit is another one. Basically we need more accessible and affordable solutions to make connecting with one another easier.

[@katieyoung2262]

I rather be alone because every time I try to make friends the first question I always get from them is can I borrow money and that's all I get from them is manipulation and people using me.

[@brandonwilliams6221]

Uh huh….yeah that’s always the first thing I ask strangers for. Money! Are you talking to homeless people!?

[@inlandempress4587]

No, she is a part of a failing economic and social system.

[@Boudicaisback]

Same here. Most people look at others and think hmmm "what can they do for me?"

[@jant4741]

Wow bummer. Cultivating interests that have guilds and groups that meet up might help. Book clubs, hiking groups etc are full of quality people.

[@katieyoung2262]

@@jant4741 those type of people are hard to find especially where I live at

[@johnjames502]

Is that why you refused to let kids go to school?

[@Boudicaisback]

Most of us dont even talk to or know our neighbors which is super strange when you think about it.

[@jonasbaine3538]

@Mas0n Cain just people you avoid

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

That's everywhere

[@Ur2ez4me81]

Isn’t this one of the guys who kept people living in fear 24/7 & locked down?

[@brandonwilliams6221]

I dread that people like you can drive.

[@Zombied77]

@@brandonwilliams6221 He's not wrong though, lockdowns ruined a lot of people.

[@trixie9777]

@Ur2ez4me81 yep! Causing a massive mental health crisis that is never talked about.

[@Boudicaisback]

​@@brandonwilliams6221 I'm scared when I see people driving alone with masks on still

[@jakeroberts7435]

@@trixie9777 Yes it is, just not talked about by the presstitutes.

[@Solemnseraph]

The pandemic was such an interesting experience for me as a transgender woman, because nothing changed for me. I had been living in total isolation, cut off from society for my own safety for years by that point. The internet was the only way I could meet others who felt like I did and connect with them, and every time I tried to be a part of a larger group I was harassed, misgendered, and chased away, so I grew to believe it was better to be lonely than dead. Watching as the entire world suddenly had a small taste of what I had been living through for years was surreal, and no it did not bring me comfort or satisfaction as I would not wish such things on my worst enemies. But it is illegal in many places for me to use public restrooms, trans people are told it is unfair for us to participate in sports which really extends far beyond that and pretty much into everything we try to do. I have faced extreme adversity in trying to find employment, or maintain housing without ever missing rent payments I will add, and I had to drop out of college when I lost places to stay despite having a 3.8 or higher GPA. I was always a hard worker, never took sick days, took extra shifts without complaint, I did what any hard working American would do yet somehow just by being transgender, all my efforts were deemed fraudulent or unfair to others. I do not feel safe in large groups of people, the harassment and violence against members of my community has made it all but impossible for us to be a part of society. I guess I had hoped that maybe after the pandemic, since so many people had a small taste of the way that transgender Americans have been forced to live that maybe it could be the start of compassion and out reach, that maybe more would be done to help bring us into the fold, but alas it has only gotten worse. There will be no remedy for my community, no help for our lonliness, we will have to sit by and watch as society gets along without us, just as we watched when you unwittingly joined us in isolation. I truly do not feel like I am welcome, wanted, or a part of this country and as a proud American I do not know how to process the feelings of being treated like a stranger or unwelcome invader in my own nation.

[@curtcoller3632]

Dr. Vivek states the most important and quite obvious result of our current social development. And he understands it's a result of computer, cell phone and similar technical success. It's so sad that only a handful of people really understand this. And virtually nobody works to improve the situation.

[@shitmandood]

It costs gas and time to commute to be around others though.

[@cujoedaman]

Of course no one wants to fix it, it makes too much money keeping everyone glued to their phones 24/7.

[@JeffCaplan313]

Ted Kacynski tried.

[@richyp64]

I'm in my 60s and childless. At least I have my cats and boxed wine to get me through the nights.

[@Cynthia-uf9ro]

Cats and wine are good!

[@caramela4830]

The top 5 things people regret on their death bed. 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. What's your greatest regret so far? What will you set out to achieve or change before you die?

[@Edaloy27]

Face to face connection is vital, this current toxic social media victim Olympics is getting tired.

[@DoSe420]

Wasn't brought in by COVID, issues were brought in by social media. Social media encourages being alone and not interacting with physical people. This is why they talked about teen girls and social media within the last 6 months.

[@jant4741]

Sister Teresa said long before social media”loneliness is the disease of America”.

[@cnice7903]

I don't disagree that social media has influenced people into certain paths, but not everyone who is lonely today even has social media. In fact, in the elderly population, some social media may actually help them keep up with the fast paced lifestyle of their younger family members. Social media seems to be a double edged sword and it really depends on the person who is using it. Kind of like how some people can taste alcohol and go on to only drink on occasion while in other individuals, it only takes that first taste to turn into habitual drinking. Cvid lock downs and the push to fear your fellow citizen while pushing remaining isolated as a virtuous act towards society certainly did push certain people into loneliness. Social media definitely has helped mental illness grow, but this report is downplaying the fact that the very same people who are talking on the screen are some of the same people who helped push people to view society as contaminated and it's only natural that some of that fallout still remains in people. In fact, at the height of the celebrated isolation...social media, zoom, etc were being pushed and used as "life saving" methods to help keep connections alive. I don't think it's only socialmedia and lockdowns but also just a push on us overall to embrace more materialistic items that require people to work, be on the road constantly. Bigger is not always better but in our society it has been seen as signs of personal achievement.

[@YUMLiberalTears]

Thanks for teaching us about "rebuilding social connections" after you destroyed society with lockdowns that had zero science behind them.

[@trixie9777]

Agreed!

[@j.a.c3813]

Loneliness is nothing new, it's just now it's covering a large portion of the population. Its the addiction to technology such as social media. Teen suicide rates are sky high, the blame being put on social media. It's also the rates of anxiety from the technology and the world we are living in today. People hide in their phone and computer apps to feel better by the dopamine fix they get from it. It's also the lack of openness and understanding we have about mental health. Young people do not even know how to hold simple conversations anymore with grabbing thier phone.

[@mnoir8888]

I prefer being alone than spending time with annoying people.

[@Skateandcreate9]

@@crispinfornoff206yes, we do

[@JonezBBQ]

Those interactions are still essential. However, you should find people that don’t annoy you and spend time with them.

[@marktwaine9344]

@@JonezBBQ I've found those are mostly dead people, also they don't disagree....

[@markbrock8662]

Easy to be annoyed with others. Harder to look inside ourselves and find out why. But that is our work, if we will have it. In this way, annoying people are a gift to us.

[@russellzauner]

lol this clip was full of more crap than a crap farm "stop being independent" "be more productive" They don't want the cogs to realize that they really would like to start wealth extraction back up in earnest now that workers can go back to their labors in whatever equivalent the regional local salt mine is.

[@dyanaprajna4556]

Psychologists have shown, over and over, that social media is dehumanizing us. I believe it's at least part of the problem with our issues today. Having people to hang out with online is cool, but we need real, actual human interaction. Unless you're an introvert like me 😛. But I'm married with 4 kids, so I get enough human interaction

[@Skateandcreate9]

Facts bro

[@cujoedaman]

Introverts are a completely different topic, though. It creates a social anxiety that your brain can't deal with.

[@Skateandcreate9]

This is *ALL* on the upper class *ABANDONING* this countries working class!

[@MrSneaksful]

and the government allowing it.

[@kevinc8955]

What does any of that have to do with having real life friends? I’ve lived through a dozen recessions in my life, and I still have friends. Younger generations are seemingly full of broken people. No girlfriends or friends or even meaningful work acquaintances.

[@botkill3635]

This guy that supported lock downs is now spouting this.

[@daydreonmckinney]

There's many that are lonely out there. There's also many that's really angry out there. That could be a big reason why loneliness is such a big issue.

[@Rhizomorphik]

Loneliness?! How about paying people decent wages and lowering rents and food prices, that on itself will be a first step to motivate and allow people to socialize a little more, with less fkn stress in their lives.

[@Frank-oz8be]

Did you stop for one moment to think about how aristocrats and landlords would feel??? We cant have our neofeudal overlords feel inconvenienced, posterity be damned

[@Rhizomorphik]

@@Frank-oz8be you're so right, how selfish of me

[@hashiramasenju6058]

In the past, you had to go out of your way to AVOID social interactions and now it's the opposite. You now have to go out of you way to HAVE social interactions. With almost all Americans living in nuclear families (instead of joint families with more than 2 generations living in a home) and no longer having dense communities to where you could walk out your home and be surrounded by a lot of people. Also, home sizes have gotten so much bigger in which you can be in one part of a house and not see other family members.

[@jimeagle5509]

Imagine forcibly closing schools, businesses, parks, beaches, golf courses, restaurants, amusement parks, stadiums, and general get-togethers …….and now being concerned about mental health. Lol - “Experts™️” Thanks ~Jim Eagle

[@mikebrigs1218]

IMAGINE BEING LONELY AND A LIBERAL. YOU ALREADY HATE EVERYTHING. LOL!!! ENJOY!!

[@sircasm6578]

​@Armed Liberal 👈 RED LABIA ❤️🤣

[@TooBadThatDidntKillMe]

@@sircasm6578 You want him to peg you. Why else do you stalk him?

[@Lawlzinator]

These people are sociopaths

[@TransexualChrist-]

imagine derrrrrr

[@shitmandood]

I’d like to have friends but my old friends ditched me. I got nobody now except a few online folks.

[@shari9721]

The majority 25 and under dont know how to socially interact or how to have a conversation in real life and being with people or in a group or doing something in a crowd or going out in public terrifies them and causes panic and anxiety because they have spent so much time online .

[@Frank-oz8be]

Sounds like a car-dependent infrastructure and commodification of public spaces left no place for young people to interact w/o pressure.

[@jonasbaine3538]

@@Frank-oz8be rampant gun violence from irrational people is a major concern or getting shot to pieces at a mall, school, work too… plus wild police…fear culture in USA.

[@TimFL89]

Maybe the government should stop forcing lockdowns.

[@trixie9777]

Absolutely!

[@Frank-oz8be]

The lockdown was two years ago dude.

[@TimFL89]

@@Frank-oz8be and we’re still reeling from the consequences, dude. We haven’t seen the last of lockdowns.

[@TimFL89]

@@Frank-oz8be It was the biggest and fastest transfer of wealth in modern history. How many children are dealing with stunted communication skills? Social skills? They still force me to wear a mask at the VA hospital. Even after 47+ studies have proven they completely ineffective. You want to downplay all of this? Looking for good boy head pats? From who, dude? 🖕

[@ryanfitzalan8634]

stop trying to encourage corporations to remove remote benefits and force people back to the office. It is a economic ploy to get people driving more and spending money on gas and cars. we need pedestrian friendly cities and communities, transit oriented design. this allows for beneficial "third places" to emerge where people spend time outside their homes, or for people to choose to work out of third places with friends and families. In urbanist, walkable, pedestrian friendly places, people like to spend time going to places or going to see each other.

[@ensignofindustry1033]

Debilitating levels of media.

[@joshuarosenau2424]

"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

[@lockelamora0717]

Chronic pain keeps many stuck inside their homes. It doesn't help that our pain goes untreated thanks to opioid restrictions.

[@FledgedPhoenix]

When I was 17 I started to have an autoimmune disease that gave me chronic pain. Now I'm 31. I don't think opioids are particularly good for the long term. The opioid epidemic has ruined so many lives. I sympathize with people in pain I deal with it everyday too. Maybe Weed is an alternative?

[@theone31man]

Half of us are so whacked out that who wants to talk to them? Your better off alone than with the company of wacko's.

[@elloowu6293]

Introverts: Nah we're good.

[@chernobyl169]

Anything to get butts back into offices and keep propping up the real estate juggernaut, right?

[@gpxBJdlr]

I fit the bill of what he's talking about completely.

[@Jtyoutube2467]

I have to say i like to interact with people outside the internet and the screen this is a ongoing issue that has to be addressed.

[@lindabarret]

I tried many times to form good friendships in churches and what I found is that people go there lonely and come back just as lonely and nobody pays attention to anyone anyway. So, I don't know what the answer is.

[@user-vu1uq2rz3r]

Just think if he had said this 2 years ago Nicole Wallace and Joe would have called him a “conspiracy theorist harming the soul of our democracy “

[@JohnDoe-uk7fj]

Wait, wait, wait. You told us to social distance. Not you want us to socially connect? Get your stories straight.

[@BadBoyBehr]

Wow, I really hope they address all of the loneliness, Isolation, depression and anxiety associated with the pandemic shutdown? Was all of what we did really worth it if we’re all doomed within the next decade? It’s shameful that we sacrificed a generation to save the baby boomers, who happen to own the world.

[@aurora_occidentalis2248]

It's especially sad when familial social connections fail. Like when the Bidens refuse to acknowledge that their granddaughter even exists.

[@karibennett3532]

I feel like the political environment has changed the way that we interact with each other and it isn’t getting better. It’s hard for us to have hope when our own Government leaders are not good leaders and just polarize the entire country constantly.

[@SkyeRangerNick]

It is more than whether or not we are "with" others. There is more to life than "hanging out." What people have as meaningful collaborative activities is the big question. We have dumbed down the available activities for kids and adults. We need dynamic diverse uplifting activities. Old service organizations and faith organizations have dumbed themselves down alarmingly.

[@SkyeRangerNick]

We need to build 21st century social infrastructure. We do not need 19th century and 20th century social infrastructure. The outdated broken social infrastructure of the past are a major part of the problem.

[@ItsMeMario-nm7rk]

I love going into the office. I have a whole floor to myself!

[@mikebrigs1218]

@Armed Liberal GET THAT ROGAIN CAP BOY!!

[@ItsMeMario-nm7rk]

@Armed Liberal fat shaming?

[@chuck_in_socal]

Nobody wants to share space with a lefty.

[@TransexualChrist-]

​@@mikebrigs1218 👈🤪DERRRRP

[@joydivision2112]

Maybe this should have been considered before locking us in our homes and closing all places of public gatherings.

[@StressRUs]

Social disruption is endemic in a massively overpopulated unrelated society living in a period of one diaspora after another. Social media is the temporary band-aid for many of us; it's 12-step groups for me. Stress R Us

[@sirsmilealot5458]

Most people are not worth socially connecting with. Sad but true. 😳

[@kellyodowd3949]

Facebook should be combined with free online mental health services. They already have everyone's psychological profiles.

[@willfitz777]

As far as you go, stupid people need to stay away.

[@brentharrington9235]

Some basic parenting would help a lot of this. Establish good behaviors in children and they will carry them into adulthood. Limiting screen time, encouraging team activities, involvement in community via charity, worship, or public service. Good habits last a lifetime.

[@rachelbuckley4499]

Yes!

[@cheecheneg]

And teaching them not to treat other human beings like they’re nothing

[@ronniesandoval8254]

Give me a break!

[@lindabarret]

I tried many times to form good friendships in churches and what found is that people go there lonely and come back just as lonely and nobody pays attention to anyone anyway. So, I don't know what the answer is.

[@DarthSailorMoo]

You can tell how lonely Winston Smith is with all his fairy tale fantasies. He won't even go outside to touch the grass during a weekend.

[@TooBadThatDidntKillMe]

He even imagines himself being indigenous.

[@TransexualChrist-]

​@@TooBadThatDidntKillMe he thinks indigenous means "in need of a bath"

[@DarthSailorMoo]

​@@TooBadThatDidntKillMe lol true

[@russellzauner]

this clip was full of more crap than a crap farm "stop being independent" "be more productive" They don't want the cogs to realize that they really would like to start wealth extraction back up in earnest now that workers can go back to their labors in whatever equivalent the regional local salt mine is. I was more lonely when I was working and socializing than after I became a disabled shut in...

[@lukose2007]

For young adults, I would recommend an in-person board game session once a week .

[@lucydeantiguatarot8977]

Being online and using it often as an adult, is not the reason for feeling lonely. The thing that is more important is that it creates a great sense of independence and research options at our fingertips. What people (adults) do on their own to feel or not to feel lonely is not the business of the experts. Regarding how it is affecting children, I think that it is the responsibility of the adults who choose to have children to deal with theses issues of their children feeling lonely, and not dumping this problem on the rest of us adults who have chosen to live our lives and not have children. I don't want to see TikTok taken away just because some parents are concerned about how it affects their kids. Guns are negative, but I don't hear about how that can create fear on children. Leave our social medias alone and stop blaming them for those "people" and "children" who are feeling lonely because they don't have any social connections. It seems to me that this rhetoric is designed to get us to abandon our independent ways of living and working using the loneliness of these "poor" kids and those "poor" lonely people as an excuse. Parents, deal with your kids. Spend quality time with them. Talk to them more. If you don't' know how to do this, then you can get expert help to help you learn how to work with your children so that they don't feel lonely. And regarding social media, if Parents are concerned how it is affecting their children, then try to find more creative ways for them to spend their time. I know it's hard. Please, don't go trying to get the rest of us, who have learned how to help our kids be happy, not have access to our social media. As an independent adult, I love social media and do not have any problems with it at all.

[@deena681]

I am so grateful for Dr. Murthy to bring awareness to this issue. The UK started this years ago. The issue with many religious institutions is many seem to exclude many people.

[@JohnSmith-nm4zd]

Sending love to everyone who is lonely

[@user-by3nd4rm6c]

Sending love back :)

[@MatthewMS.]

I was once popular, had many serious relationships… now I am alone all the time by choice. I like it.

[@erlic1967]

The only time I'm not alone is when I am at work. I don't have any family and I have been divorced for 15 years now. I have two stepchildren that are grown and they are with their families. I am alone most of the time and I hate it. I am extremely depressed and I find I don't care about a lot of things I use to like. I have been trying to find a woman that wants to not be alone as well or a woman that can look past my flaws and just care about us.

[@BLAMBERRY]

Leave the USA and go to asia.

[@jonasbaine3538]

Not gonna find her in America. Get on a plane

[@mikehall6912]

This same man championed lockdowns

[@FledgedPhoenix]

I'm very lonely please help me.

[@mareh.7293]

As a pro cuddler I am seeing this need and hoping that people will reach out to friends, family, and services that can help to regulate the nervous system.

[@karmaalstad5588]

Black Eyed Dog was a phrase Winston Churchill used to describe his depression. 🧐🤨

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

There is no such thing as a "loneliness pandemic", loneliness is an emotion just like sadness, happiness, excitement, etc, to say that loneliness is an "epidemic" is irresponsible, emotions are not an epidemic

[@stuchatterton6550]

Making the choice to turn off social media makes a huge difference....

[@ljensen9364]

Love Dr. Murthy! His book, Together, is a favorite must read

[@williamashbless7904]

Everybody’s favorite Yes man!

[@MegaAppl3]

I think it's okay to be by yourself. Let life take it's course and follow your path.

[@druggy1868]

I don't wish to undermine this but I just gotta say, It's only in the US that loneliness can be the foremost health concern.

[@andrewokr16]

Weird, y'all scream at people for two years the world is dangerous and try to vilify everyone who dare speak out and create a culture of paranoia and fear. Then you scratch your heads and wonder why everyone's lonely.

[@Frank-oz8be]

This has been going on for longer than 2 years.The coronavirus pandemic just showed how blatantly disrespectful people are and there is less willing to communicate now.

[@abhi739]

loneliness is definately the reason for increase in drug addiction

[@TfearWasHere]

LOCK DOWN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF LONLIENESS

[@vadimmanuilov7401]

Isn’t this the same guy who rooted for lockdowns and al that crap?

[@cujoedaman]

Stop living your life on Facebook and TikTok and actually go outside to interact with people. Problem solved.

[@obehiokojie4066]

Humans are becoming more and more automated...operating more like machines without feelings. This feeling of voidness is what it comes up to. The solution is in restoring old forgotten values. This intense pursuit of materialistic accumulation will only bring humanity misery.

[@jant4741]

Encourage hobbies in schools to cultivate life long interests as done in other countries. As a retiree am a member of guilds. Really good community centers that offer classes and work shops would help too.

[@joshuabuchanan1141]

Anytime I did that, no one would talk to each other

[@jant4741]

@@joshuabuchanan1141 volunteer work & support groups, YMCA type classes? Got to keep showing up. First day of summer vacation at the beach in June is lonely, but by late August people are familiar…

[@AC-re9ee]

Yeah, I see people being crushed under high inflation to be a little more important than loneliness, Democrats wonder why people are fleeing from their party 😂😂

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

High inflation enhances loneliness if you think about it. Also, the Surgeon General has nothing to do with inflation, so why would he be talking about it except in the context of health?

[@AC-re9ee]

@@ReineDeLaSeine14 because people becoming homeless aren't very healthy🙄

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

@@AC-re9ee It’s still not his department. The SG is a specialist position. I do wish he had touched on it too…inflation limits healthcare access and opportunities for socialization too.

[@lindabarret]

I'll tell you one thing though, just talking between people doesn't do much. It needs to be practical and true.

[@thomasshoff6512]

Younger folks tend to have reservations about trust in society as well as respect for authority. This puts them into the convenience of social media and isolates them. Many folks are highly social and miss the people interactions. Consider citizens polarized politically and lack of communications due to this. Good communication among people is missing and even considered unnecessary. AI IS ON THE HORIZON AND IS SPEEDING THE LONELY FACTOR. WE NEED TO LOOK BACK TO SOCIALIZATION PROCESSES. “Normal” behaviors is comforting and encourages interaction. The “I” needs to become “WE” once again!

[@deletewindoze]

He is close, but I think he misses the point. He said it himself, that we allow others to compare ourselves with them, and feel worse about ourselves. This is a self esteem issue, and not a technical or social media issue. You're not going to design social media platforms to solve the problem.

[@Frank-oz8be]

We've created a social structure where if you're not rich, you're not going to have a good quality life. There is no room to be average, because average under neoliberal ideology means you are losing ground to the aristocracy. There is no public space unless youre hyper rich and it is tearing society apart

[@deletewindoze]

@@Frank-oz8be Sounds like you have fallen into that trap of keeping up with the Jones. Everything you listed can be ignored, and pursue what you want instead. Make yourself happy, and don't worry about the things everybody else has, because you will never be satisfied. You said it yourself by comparing yourself to the "hyper rich".

[@filthywings353]

If loneliness is so bad why is the US provoking a nuclear war with China? Does radiation help with social anxiety?

[@cskrilla1]

So locking people in doors for two years wasn’t a good idea…we’ll knock me over with a feather

[@Tofu_Pilot]

I have not seen for a second, a person that isn’t my coworker in 2023. I’ve not seen a single coworker outside of work the whole time I’ve been employed at my job. I suppose the loneliness is coming for me soon. I do guess I am not living a healthy lifestyle. Dang.

[@janiekcarney5482]

Have you asked to meet for a cup of coffee after work. Or diner with their Family and yours. If you have a Family. I have asked people that were my Friends before the lock down but they have other Friends now. I started going back to Church. I need to make new Friends.

[@marktwaine9344]

don't worry most other people aren't either...

[@russellzauner]

lol this clip was full of more crap than a crap farm "stop being independent" "be more productive" They don't want the cogs to realize that they really would like to start wealth extraction back up in earnest now that they can go back to their labors in whatever equivalent of local salt mine you have.

[@thomasshanks6735]

@@janiekcarney5482yes I did the same. I reached out to friends from before the pandemic, they agreed to hang out. And also I try to interact with my family more often. All of these things help in getting back to normal social levels.

[@Tallacus]

This has been going on all my adult life, I havent had a GF in the past 5 years

[@barnowl4528]

LendingTree stock is getting clubbed like a baby seal today

[@mikebrigs1218]

XBB.1.16. WHAT IS IT??

[@TransexualChrist-]

​@Friendof Cheapergas 👈🤪childeee derrrrrrrhhhhpp

[@TT-ww8vv]

Good

[@TT-ww8vv]

Usury is a sin.

[@commonsense504]

Looking like Sinko de Mayo is coming early this year.