Letters to the Editor: Jennifer Horgan highlights the antisocial aspect of social media

'Irish Examiner' columnist Jennifer Horgan struck a chord with readers in her piece about loneliness, while other readers consider issues including neutrality, defence, and public health

Jennifer Horgan wrote: 'My mum, though limited in her mobility and well into her 70s, talks to her friends at length on the phone every day. My phone might be pinging but hers is actually ringing.' See link to Jennifer's article below. Picture: Dan Linehan

Jennifer Horgan ('Irish Examiner' Opinion, June 16) candidly queries her personal festering sense of loneliness despite her plethora of Whatsapp group memberships. She even quotes recent EU research on loneliness which reveals that Ireland has the highest levels of loneliness in Europe. 

Despite the modern-day glut of communication conduits and devices, she illuminates that for real authenticity in the ‘loneliness-busting’ stakes, we’re fairly derelict. ‘Appiness’ has replaced happiness it seems. Thus, sanitised pseudo-communication exchanges are now at tsunami level, yet genuine wholesome and satisfying contact still eludes most folk.