The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the growing impact of excessive mobile device and social media use, linking it to rising levels of loneliness and serious mental and physical health consequences. According to a recent report from a WHO-appointed commission, one in six people globally is negatively affected by loneliness—a condition that, alongside social isolation, contributes to nearly 871,000 deaths worldwide each year.
The report outlines how loneliness significantly increases the risk of various health issues, including strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. These risks are particularly pronounced among teenagers and older adults.
Consequences Across Age Groups
Adolescents who report feelings of loneliness are 22% more likely to score lower in academic performance compared to their peers, while adults facing similar emotional states encounter greater difficulties securing or maintaining employment. The implications are not limited to individuals; loneliness also carries a substantial societal burden, driving up healthcare costs and leading to workforce productivity losses that collectively cost billions globally.
A Modern Epidemic Fueled by Technology
Dr. Vivek Murthy, co-chair of the WHO commission, described loneliness as a “deeply personal and painful feeling that arises when the social connections we need don’t match those we have.” In contrast, he clarified, social isolation refers to the more objective state of having few social relationships or interactions.
The commission’s findings revealed that one in three older adults and one in four adults overall experience some form of social isolation. Contributing factors include illness, low income, poor educational access, lack of social opportunities, and living alone. Notably, overreliance on digital technology—especially mobile phones and social media—has emerged as a significant driver of social disconnection.
Murthy emphasised that humans have communicated for millennia not only through words, but also through facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and even shared silence. These forms of connection are rapidly fading in an age dominated by digital interaction.
