| On June 27, my colleague Joi-Marie McKenzie Lewis and I sent an email to the Business Insider newsroom.
“At any given moment, one in two Americans is facing measurable levels of loneliness, with some of the highest rates among young adults,” we said.
“This is one of the social and health stories of our time, and there’s strong reader interest in this topic. We’re inviting pitches from across the Business Insider newsroom to tackle this topic in creative, original, hopeful, and eye-catching ways.”
The response was overwhelming. That email led to our series on modern loneliness, which delves into the complexities of isolation, explores its causes and effects, and examines how people are navigating it.
For example, a software engineer said that a move to a high-paying job in Seattle turned into the loneliest time of his life. The CEO of Lyft, David Risher, wrote that Big Tech made America lonelier but had an opportunity to redeem itself. Venture capitalists, meanwhile, are betting on startups that could help address the crisis.
On Wall Street, junior bankers are saying they feel disconnected from their colleagues. Some Gen Zers are spending thousands of dollars trying to make friends through gym memberships and social clubs. Others are turning to youth sports, the library, or the office.
Business Insider’s reporters also shared their personal stories. Blake Dodge described how moving to West Virginia after a breakup left her lonelier than ever. Talia Lakritz attended a group singing event she found on TikTok and documented it for us. And we’ll have more stories in the coming weeks.
I’d love to hear from you if any of these stories resonate with you. And let me know what you think we missed: insidertoday@insider.com. |