Digital connectivity is fueling an epidemic of loneliness through social comparison, echo chambers, and reward hijacking. The solution isn't abandoning technology but using it intentionally to strengthen rather than replace real-world human connection.
Despite living in dense cities with millions of neighbors, urban loneliness has surged 53% in some regions since 2020, with one in three adults now reporting measurable isolation. The culprit isn't just technology—it's poor urban design: car-centric sprawl, lack of green space, vanishing third places, and high-rise housing without communal areas. Yet solutions exist: Copenhagen's Centre for Health uses biophilic design to foster spontaneous connection; Denmark's Fælldby district shares solar ...
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