solving the loneliness epidemic should be a huge priority for most nation states, just a huge psychological and economic cost that we are silently bearing

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It’s fear and lack of trust. People have slowly lost faith in people.

Instead, we’ve redirected that trust toward systems tech, routines, brands, institutions that feel predictable. Our jobs eat our time. Our screens eat our attention. And over time, society quietly redefined what counts as “fun.”

The real epidemic isn’t just loneliness it’s a vibe shift in how we think about connection. We stopped believing other humans were worth the emotional risk.

it’s a bit like asking how to solve for encouraging people to have kids… we shouldn’t really have to incentivize this behaviour, it’s natural.

so then the flip side is asking what is currently deterring this behaviour, and on the surface you might say social media algos, remote work, low wages and therefore lower discretionary spending.

but somehow those answers feel very incomplete, like we’re staring down a larger more insidious problem. why aren’t we friendly with our neighbours anymore? how do we fix something so fundamental as relating to one another?

My dream scenario is that AI creates more material abundance but also a longing for what is real and human. 

So people have both more ability and more desire to spend time together IRL. 

(In actuality this will prob be true for some small %, but most people will fill their loneliness with artificial companions)

I suspect the very foundations of the system that allows nation-states. Certainly the tireless pursuit of specific types of wealth is at a certain point incompatible with a non  atomised society. Late capitalism eats its young.

this morning there was a news segment on people dating their llms while in a relationship so i think it will be solved soon ngl

whether that's positive or negative idk

What solutions do you propose?
Most options I can think of would feel cringe at best and authoritarian at worst...

No nations seem to care about the loneliness epidemic, if any thing there making it worse. I live mostly pay check to pay check now and the little saveings I do have are being eaten by inflashion. I go to work and I go home, I cant aford much and am to tired to do whats free. Its sad.

they are doing the exact opposite of trying to solve it, and they will continue in that direction

True bro, I always think that there are very few investments in areas of taking care of the well-being of the citizen in several countries we can see how there is a huge group of people sunk in loneliness and depression

I completely agree. Investing in mental health infrastructure, community programs, and social connections can have long-term benefits for individuals, economies, and societies as a whole.