As someone who enjoys social media, I have a question... Have you ever spent hours searching through online postings and wondered what happened?

According to the 2018 AARP Loneliness and Social Connections Survey study, LGBTQ males are at an increased risk for chronic loneliness and commonly use technology to socialize with friends. Those participants said they spent too much time alone and engaged in more risky or unhealthy behaviors when lonely. Heterosexuals more often socialize with friends in person. Why is this a difference?

Chronically lonely adults engaged in isolated activities such as watching television or using the internet, whereas those who were not chronically lonely were more likely to seek out social activities.

The profound mental and physical consequences of loneliness are increased rates of depression and premature death.

Aloneness is a neutral state of being physically alone, which can be positive or negative, depending on the situation and your mindset (e.g., someone chooses to spend a weekend alone to enjoy quiet time).

Loneliness is a negative emotional state characterized by a sense of isolation, lack of connection, and longing for companionship, which can occur even when surrounded by people (e.g., feeling isolated and sad at a crowded party where you do not know anyone).

Three types of loneliness are described.

Social engagement is the act of doing things in a physical location. For example, a friend has a monthly meet-up for coffee. This takes place at a real coffeehouse, and people show up and sit together. No one attends on their computer from........

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