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Anyone who has experienced loneliness knows how deeply personal it feels. We feel lonely when our social and emotional needs aren't being met. Because of this, psychological research often focuses on individual-level solutions, encouraging people to change their perceptions or behavior through therapy. But this focus misses the heart of the issue: the absence of meaningful connection with others.

It's right to be concerned about high rates of loneliness among young people, especially given the negative impact of severe loneliness . Some that technology is to blame and point to increased time spent on phones or social media.

While do show that higher internet use is associated with greater loneliness, the direction of this relationship . Are young people lonely because they're online, or online because they feel lonely?

The internet is not devoid of social interaction. In fact, young people's online activities often mirror their offline behavior, especially when it comes to seeking connection and . This complicates the idea that technology alone is to blame.

Rather than placing all responsibility on a person suffering from loneliness, we need to look at societal solutions. This doesn't mean psychological interventions have no value. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or social skills training can be , particularly in cases of severe loneliness.

But these approaches aren't universally successful. They're expensive, require trained professionals and any resulting improvements are often short-lived.

Societal solutions, by contrast, offer broader and more sustainable impact. These can be thought of in two main ways: creating spaces for meaningful social connection and addressing the root societal conditions that lead to loneliness.

While loneliness is a subjective experience, social connection is more tangible. It's reflected in whether we have people we can rely on, whether we feel supported, and the quality of our relationships. In this sense, social connection can be an .

When public spaces shrink, loneliness grows

But opportunities for connection are shrinking. In the UK, hundreds of millions of pounds have been cut from youth services and half of all youth clubs closed . At the same time, a has left many young people—even those in full-time work— at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, "third spaces"—places outside of home, school, or work where people can connect—. Cafes and bars are often too expensive, while public libraries and community spaces are . In this context, it's no surprise that young people are spending more time socializing online: there are simply fewer affordable and accessible places to connect in person.

Taking a societal approach also means acknowledging the inequalities that shape how loneliness is experienced. We're not just individuals making isolated choices: we're part of communities and systems. And, for many, structural issues like marginalization and discrimination play a role in their experience of loneliness.

Young people from marginalized backgrounds, including those from and those , are at significantly higher risk of loneliness. that exclusion and discrimination—not individual deficits—are contributing to this.

That's why some are calling for us to understand the , from personal traits to societal attitudes to the design of neighborhoods and communities.

If we want to reduce loneliness in young people, we need to go beyond telling them to seek therapy or use their phones less. We need public investment in spaces that foster connection, and we must address the broader structural issues that make some young people especially vulnerable. Focusing only on the lonely individual won't be enough, especially for those facing the deepest barriers to belonging.

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