8 August 2019

The Guardian: Why are thirtysomethings lonely? Because society doesn’t value friendship

Millennials aren’t just the poorest generation; they are also the loneliest. According to data from YouGov, 30% of millennials (those born between 1982 and 1999) say they always or often feel lonely, compared with 20% of Gen X and 15% of baby boomers. Also, 22% of millennials say they have no friends, which is a significantly higher percentage than those in older generations. [...]

Our culture is based around celebrating romantic and familial milestones: engagements, weddings, christenings. We are not taught to venerate or celebrate friendship in the same way we are romantic relationships. We are not taught that friendships can be just as complex, if not more so, than romantic couplings; that losing a friend can be as heartbreaking as losing a lover. So, when we get to a point in our lives when our friendships start to change, there is no wonder it can feel so lonely.

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