The friendship problem

ABC 200: On how modern loneliness masks itself as hyper connectivity

Quick editor’s note to say thank you for being here! This is the 200th edition of The Article Book Club. When I started the ABC back in 2016, I had no idea we’d still be going strong 8 years later. Whether you reply to each email or just skim the articles whenever you can, I appreciate you. Here’s to the next 200!

---

There has been so much written on the loneliness epidemic, you would think we were in desperate search of a cure. But it doesn’t take a team of mRNA scientists to see that the cure is quite simple: we need to spend more time with each another.

“Hanging out more” is a surprisingly effective public health intervention. Sheila Liming argues that it’s the key to becoming happier. Jonathan Haidt argues that it’s an essential part of solving the teen mental health crisis. Bill McKibbon argues that it’s one of the best thing we can do to prepare ourselves for climate change.

But the thorny question remains: why has getting together with the people that we love become so freakin’ difficult?

This week’s article gets at an answer. It’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve read in the past year because it so eloquently captures one of those amorphous emotions we’re all feeling. (And it just happens to be written by an ABC reader,

Rosie Spinks

.)

Curious to hear what you think of this one in the comments!

Here’s the piece: The friendship problem

Warmly,
Simo 

P.S. The song of the week is one of those chameleon tracks that can match any mood you’re in. The full songs of the week playlist is here.