Teens aren’t socialising in the real world. And that’s making them super lonely

Fear of being without a cellphone is a treatable malady. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Teens whose face time with friends is mostly on their phones are the loneliest of all, but even those who mix real-world socialising with social media still are increasingly isolated, a report out March 20 shows. 

Loneliness isn't just an age thing; it's generational, says the author of the study, San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge. The percentage of high school seniors who said they often felt lonely increased from 26% in 2012 to 39% in 2017.