Colman Noctor: Contactless relationships do not add up for young people  

"We are witnessing the first generation who have not grown up on the street, road, or green, and the social and emotional consequences are becoming apparent."

Young people should be encouraged to ‘hang out’ and develop social skills instead of being trapped in the online bubble. Picture: iStock

When I read over my 2024 columns, one theme came up repeatedly: Connection. Whether I was discussing the impact of technology and AI, loneliness and exclusion, or diminishing social opportunities, connection was the problem and the solution.

Don’t just take my word for it. A large study carried out this year by Eva Oberele and colleagues at British Columbia University, Canada, found that increased connectedness improved mental wellbeing and decreased connectedness reduced it.