Sharp rise in friendless young people linked to social media and pandemic
A Guardian report reveals a fivefold increase in young people with no close friends since 2014, blaming austerity, the pandemic and social media.
How it was covered
- GB News was the only channel found covering it.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
A new report published in the Guardian has found a sharp rise in the number of young people in England with no close friends. The number has increased fivefold since 2014, according to research covering 11 to 24 year olds. The study paints a sobering picture of young people who are increasingly lonely, isolated and disconnected from themselves, their peers and wider society.
The report attributes the trend to a "bleak world" dominated by austerity, the pandemic and social media. It suggests that growing up in these conditions has had a serious impact on the social development of children and young people.
The findings have prompted debate about the role of screens and social media. Some commentators argue that young people are spending too much time on computers in their bedrooms and not enough time interacting face to face. Others point to changes in parenting and a decline in outdoor play. There is also discussion about the long term effects of lockdowns, with some claiming that keeping schools closed for longer and making small children wear masks has hurt their development.
The report comes at a time when concerns about loneliness and mental health among young people are already high. It is likely to add to calls for more action to address the social impact of the pandemic and the digital age.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| The number of young people with no close friends has risen fivefold since 2014. | |
| The report attributes the rise to austerity, the pandemic and social media. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News used the Guardian report as a springboard for a panel discussion on the causes of youth loneliness. The tone was conversational and opinionated, with hosts and guests blaming social media, lockdowns and helicopter parenting. They also shared personal anecdotes and offered practical advice, such as going to the gym.
- “sharp rise in the number of friendless young people”
- “we've got to get people off social media”
- “too many kids are spending too much time on computers in their bedrooms”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.