Does Technology Promote Loneliness? (Essay Sample)

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Does Technology Promote Loneliness?
Loneliness, defined as a subjective feeling of loss of or lack of companionship, has always been a central and inevitable experience of every man. However, in the 21st Century, statistics indicate that an increasing number of people are becoming lonelier. A 2018 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that an estimated 45% and 47% of US and UK adults (respectively) often felt lonely, left out, isolated, or lacked companionship (Schroeder 85). The past five decades has seen new technologies such as cell phones, fax, beepers, the Internet, and social media. As more and more people rely on technology, both at home and in the workplace, social scientists have traditionally attempted to understand the link between technology and loneliness. Even though technology has provided new powerful ways to connect and share, it has promoted loneliness by isolating and alienating multitudes and reducing the time people spend meeting and interacting with friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers.
Although several factors such as divorces, deaths of loved ones, job changes, temperament, and mental health issues account for the increased cases of loneliness, technology is also a major factor. According to Nowland, Necka, and Cacioppo (85), technology is critical in shaping the experience of being lonely in