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Need to Know
Loneliness can feel like being invisible, misunderstood, or unsupported, even when surrounded by others.
It’s not always about the number of people in your life, but the quality of those relationships and your own willingness to be open, authentic, and vulnerable.
Social media can create a false sense of connection while leaving deeper emotional needs unmet, especially the need to feel truly heard and understood.
Sometimes loneliness comes from not feeling like we can be ourselves or that others truly understand who we are. It can also feel like a vague emptiness.
Chronic loneliness doesn’t just affect mental health. It can also harm physical health, increasing risks of heart disease, strokes, dementia, and even early death.
Although loneliness is a common experience, it’s usually temporary. Taking steps to reconnect with yourself and others can make a big difference.
Things to Avoid
Avoid saying things such as, “You just need to get out more,” or, “Make new friends.” Loneliness is often deeper than surface-level advice can address.
Don’t minimize the experience by suggesting everyone feels this way sometimes without acknowledging its emotional and physical impact.
Be cautious about framing social media as the solution to loneliness without encouraging meaningful, offline connections.
Avoid framing loneliness as a personal failing — it’s often situational, influenced by external factors, and not a reflection of someone’s ability to make social connections.
When discussing your own experiences with loneliness, avoid sharing too much detail or focusing solely on the problem, because it can unintentionally place emotional strain on your followers. Instead, balance personal stories with insights, ways you’re coping, or hopeful perspectives.
Your Opportunity
Share small, actionable ways to feel more connected, such as volunteering, joining a club, or reaching out to old friends to shift focus from disconnection to belonging.
Talk about how building meaningful connections takes vulnerability and that reaching out — although hard — often starts the process.
Use your platform to highlight how social media can sometimes contribute to loneliness while encouraging your audience to prioritize quality relationships and offline connections.
Share your own or others’ stories about periods of loneliness, emphasizing how those experiences are universal and temporary, and can lead to growth or deeper connections.
Pair the stories with ways you’ve coped or steps you’re taking to help yourself, showing that the process is ongoing but manageable.
Remind your audience that it’s something we all go through at times and that their loneliness doesn’t define their worth.
Provide resources for building social connections or seeking professional support, such as therapy, to guide your audience toward practical help.
Resources
The 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline →
Trained counselors available 24/7, 365 days per year via phone, text, or chat.
The Jed Foundation →
Find resources to understand and deal with loneliness.
Mental Health is Health →
Find information and resources from this MTV Entertainment Studios Initiative.
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