A few months ago our church hosted a community health fair. One of the attendees stayed to help us pack up after the event. She was back the following Sabbath and joined the choir. She then attended the evangelistic program at the church and has been attending church regularly. When asked what brought her to the health fair, she said that she was just lonely.

Adam knew the feeling deeply, and so God declared, “It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18, AMPC).1 

Then God made the internet.

That’s not how the story goes, but truth is that the internet — social media, specifically — has largely become the place to go to connect with others. As of October 2024, almost 68 percent of the world’s population use the digital space, and 5.2 billion people use various social media platforms an average of 2.5 hours each day.

Many people turn to social media to cope with feelings of loneliness, but there is ongoing debate on the health impacts. Some find that the digital space helps to connect with family and friends, while others experience greater feelings of loneliness the more time they spend in the digital world. How can both be true?

A recently published research study may help us understand. The researchers found that the motive for social media use had a significant impact on levels of loneliness. Individuals who relied on social media for “relationship maintenance” experienced more feelings of loneliness. They suggest this may be because the digital tool does not allow for the same level of connection as do face-to-face interactions.2

On the other hand, an offline social environment that is fulfilling and rewarding appears to regulate negative effects of social media use. In other words, if you primarily go to social media to seek connection, it may not truly fulfill your desires. This could mean that we need to clarify the purpose of the digital space.

Loneliness is more nuanced that previously thought. In general, loneliness it can be defined as an emotional state of distress because of not having adequate connection with others. It is dependent on our personal desires for companionship and so may vary from person to person.

Different types of loneliness have also been identified: (1) emotional — absence of close personal relationships; (2) social — absence of a sense of belonging to a social network; and (3) existential — having a lack of meaning or purpose in life. Loneliness can also be voluntary (such as when an introvert retreats to regain energy) or involuntary (such as the result of the loss of a spouse).

Considering this, I can’t help thinking about the role of the church in addressing loneliness. We ought to be a place where emotional, social, and existential needs are met. In fact, if we look at common activities of a church, we find that these needs are addressed:

Fellowship: Regular potlucks, small group Bible studies, or community service projects.

Sabbath: Sabbath rest is an opportunity to disconnect from devices and connect with God and others.

Outreach: Local mission projects or health fairs that foster relationships while serving others.

Nature: Activities such as hikes or picnics or “outdoor church” services.

Gatherings: Social and educational activities, regular family worship times, or storytelling evenings.

We cannot escape living in an increasingly “wired” world. Digital spaces, including online church services, can be an important part of connecting, but they have limitations, and we cannot depend on them solely.

Loneliness continues to be a problem for humanity. As a church body, we need to exert energy into what God provided us with to combat loneliness — being with each other. In all that we do, let’s not neglect safe and healthy community building.

 — Angeline D. Brauer, Dr.P.H., M.H.S., R.D.N., is Health Ministries director for the North American Division.

1 Scripture quotations credited to AMPC are taken from Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

2 Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine 11, no. 1 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2158089.