Universities are now forming groups to counter digital loneliness to increase social connectivity. “Socializing without Cell Phones.” Washington Post (May 8^th, 2026).

“Many college leaders are concerned about the amount of time students spend on screens and social media, worried that it is increasing isolation, loneliness and anxiety, shattering attention spans, and preventing social connections …. There is some hope and self- awareness. Young people have become more wary of social media, according to Pew Research Center findings. Nearly half of teens in a survey last year said social media sites have a mostly negative effect on people their age — up from just under a third in 2022 …. Actually connecting with people … or allowing yourself to sit with your own thoughts, doing things that were normal, is an act of defiance now,” “Socializing without Cell Phones.” Washington Post (May 8^th, 2026).