We’re the Loneliest Generation, and No One Talks About Why

Third places are vanishing, and it’s slowly breaking us

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

I’ve been noticing a pattern lately – first in myself, then in my friends, and now almost everywhere I look. It’s this strange sense of emotional fatigue mixed with a need to connect with other humans.

Like so many others I know, I live a life that swings between home and work. Of course, on paper, it sounds fine: I have a roof over my head, a job that pays the bills, and a decent support system. These are all blessings that I cannot take for granted. When I zoom out, though, I can’t help but notice what’s missing – what used to be there and no longer is. What I’m talking about this:

We, as a society, don’t really “go out” anymore. Not in the casual, unstructured, ritualistic way that older generations used to, and it’s really starting to show.

Whatever Happened to Just “Hanging Out”?

There’s a kind of loneliness right now that doesn’t look like loneliness. It’s not dramatic, and it’s not out in the open. It’s very subtle. It’s the fact that I can go entire weeks or months without seeing anyone who doesn’t live with me…