There are certainly things which, on an individual level, we can do to mitigate the side effects of isolation as a result of smart technology. Namely, we could reduce our reliance on it for all social interactions and recognise the importance of face-to-face contact. Even within the technology itself, video calls may be preferable to audio only, as at least in doing so facial expressions can be read both ways. Another aspect of this solution could be to think of work not as the primary source of social interaction, instead turning to more local sources like one’s neighbours. This is, in fact, very similar to a more prehistoric social paradigm, in which social interaction and the development of meaningful relationships primarily took place within one’s immediate surroundings (Hawkley, 2010). The key here would be to prevent work, and time online more broadly, becoming all-consuming to the point that other needs, including social needs, are no longer being properly addressed. With regards to time spent online more broadly, the issue of simple boredom is also of significant relevance. We have all taken out our phones and surfed whilst waiting for a train, or even when waiting for a meeting to start, rather than engaging with co-workers who, to top it off, are right there in the room and on their phones as well. This is not easy to rewire either, because whilst the latter may be solvable by attempting to strike up an in-person conversation instead, the other still needs to respond favourably for this to work, not to mention striking up random conversations at train stations with strangers risks a minefield of cultural taboos and potential safeguarding issues. Nevertheless, there are ways of finding plausible excuses for casual, non-agenda-based conversation in public places without ringing alarm bells (Cuncic, 2020). 

To use a substance addiction model as an analogy, it is very common to treat both loneliness and isolation as well as long periods of boredom with drugs like alcohol and nicotine, the latter even becoming something of a cultural stereotype symbolising someone waiting for something[1]. This is due to the perceived need to induce a dopamine release in the brain during periods of neural overactivity or inactivity (Hawkley, 2010), neural stimulants, like nicotine, being particularly effective at the latter. The practice of texting or surfing the internet on an iPhone, however, is slightly different, catering instead to the individual’s need to communicate with others in some shape or form due to loneliness. The irony, of course, is that despite being literally surrounded in a practical sense, the individual feels insecure about speaking directly to individuals in close proximity, instead preferring the safety provided by either anonymity or a vast distance. Unfortunately, whilst safer, this form of interaction does not satisfy the individual’s need for meaningful social interaction, because that is not what the brain recognises as such as per our evolution[2]. Consciously recognising the difference should be the first individual step to developing social strategies and behaviours aimed at mitigating online dependency for social interaction. Again, the key here would be to structure one’s lifestyle around the premise that face-to-face contact is as essential as one’s nutritional or exercise needs[3].

Such strategies may be partially beneficial on an individual level, but not every individual is even aware of the problem, much less equipped to treat it on a mass scale. The more optimum solution, surely, involves prevention of mass loneliness in the first place, and this begs the question of what authorities can do in terms of actual policies that can be put forward. Let’s look again at the substance addiction analogy. There already exist innumerable laws surrounding the sale and consumption of alcohol, for example, and far more stringent laws on more addictive substances. However, alcohol, in and of itself, is not overtly harmful below a safe dose, to the contrary, many nutritionists would argue that it can be beneficial (Kaplan, 2000). Similarly, certain behaviours, like gambling, can be beneficial both to businesses in terms of providing revenue and to individual winners, provided that steps are taken to ensure an ethical service rather than exploitation of those who are clearly addicted, which risks the destitution of those customers[4].  However, when it comes to social media, laws should not inhibit online communication, nor censor it ideally, as the ability to network ideas and messages on a global scale is still of universal benefit, to the extent that this is not something we would be wise to sacrifice. Even policing it comes with bitter caveats, as that necessarily infringes on individual privacy and freedom of expression. If the problem lies in prevention before treatment, then the best place to start should be in education. Indeed, it is the youngest who have access to smart technology who are the most vulnerable.

We would, therefore, do well to make education the foremost focus of our preventative efforts to address loneliness as a symptom of smart technology. Luckily, this is something regulatory authorities and governments do have jurisdiction over. For example, even so much as introducing a taught subject such as, ‘social media studies’, which could examine the advantages but also the key dangers of social media usage, in both a mental health and a safeguarding context, could be significantly beneficial to children and teenager’s understanding, providing them with tools to adapt their social strategies and behaviour in a healthier context. Education already takes a leading role in safeguarding against online grooming and cyberbullying, and teachers are ideally placed to introduce class exercises with an emphasis on teamwork, face-to-face communication, and live debates (Agatston, 2007). First and foremost, however, the support network should be there to provide a culture of trust to pupils, and a sense that that school or college has their best interests in mind, including their social wellbeing. As such, signs of social isolation or ostracization should be picked up on alongside signs of bullying, as these are key factors that make individuals particularly vulnerable to behaviours like internet addiction (Galanti, 2021). Boredom, similarly, should be considered in the structure of a pupil’s day, making it as engaging as possible and to minimise long periods where smart technology becomes the only realistic means of passing time. Social reward mechanisms, such as in person recognition by teachers and classmates for work or performances may also be beneficial as a healthier means of facilitating creative expression, and thus developing self-esteem, rather than allowing individuals to rely on sites like Facebook for recognition. Governments would certainly do well to reflect extensively on all of this, and enact policies and systems dedicated to avoiding social isolation and boredom in education environments, which might otherwise become a hotspot for loneliness, depression, and self-doubt.

Ultimately, we would do well to regard loneliness as a symptom of a much deeper psychological problem, that being feeling dependant on the internet and smart technology to express oneself, pass the time, communicate with others, and to feel confident in ourselves. The mitigation of these things via more socially rewarding rituals of recognition for achievements, exercises with an emphasis on developing interpersonal skills and keeping our minds active to replicate the challenging environment our palaeolithic brains evolved to thrive in, should be of global importance now more than ever. This is not only because we otherwise face a pandemic of mental health issues, but it may even be a matter of our own survival as a species. With the approaching challenges of climate change, global pandemics, nuclear proliferation, overpopulation, or the risk of natural disasters on an interplanetary scale, human ingenuity has never been more needed, as there is no app for saving the world from a meteorite[5]. It is absolutely vital, therefore, as we move inexorably towards the 22^nd century that we strike the correct balance between maximising communicative potential whilst minimising misunderstanding, disconnection, and distraction by trivialities. This can only be achieved by working towards a greater understanding of the relationships between our technology and our psychological development, starting in childhood, and how that affects our ability to communicate with others on a meaningful level. It is entirely possible to get this balance right, but of course, it’s all in the dose.

[1] By all means look for the next individual smoking a cigarette or vaping whilst waiting at the next bus stop you pass.                

[2] A particularly worrying expression of this is in compulsive use of online pornography, in which a popular theme is searching for the ‘girlfriend experience’, in which attractive women roleplay being in a relationship with the viewer. Of course, the woman in question is an actress, and so the intimacy is not real, thus eliminating the risk of breaking up with the fantasy girlfriend, but also providing none of the genuine love or intimacy that the customer desperately needs (Milrod, 2012).

[3] It is already widely recognised that if one’s job involves sitting at a desk for eight hours a day, for thirty-seven hours a week, then ordinarily this will not fulfil one’s basic cardiovascular needs in terms of exercise. Fortunately, as this is widely understood, most individuals in such positions do make efforts to exercise in their spare time to compensate for this detriment (Galanti, 2021). The same could be done for face-to-face contact.

[4] Again, this is something regulatory gambling authorities would do well to address in order to sustain individual customers as an ongoing source of revenue for casinos, rather than as merely a disposable one-time pay-out.

[5] If any of this sounds familiar, then I direct you to the 2021 film Don’t Look Up, directed by Adam McKay, in which (spoiler disclaimer) a meteorite similar to the proposed object responsible for the Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction Event some 66 million years ago, wiping out most large species of dinosaur and megafauna on earth at the time, threatens to wipe out human civilisation. Unfortunately, due to breakdowns in global communication, permeated by a toxic media environment that craves exciting narratives over rational solutions to problems, no credible efforts are made to prevent the disaster, leading inevitably to humanity’s extinction. The film is a political and social satire of global inaction in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence of the catastrophic effects of global warming.