Why are today’s young people so lonely?

NO ONE should be surprised at the findings of a survey that discovered four out of ten people aged 16 to 24 say they are often lonely, compared with fewer than three out of ten over-65s. It is a clear consequence of society’s focus on consumerism and personal aspirations rather than caring about the needs of others. People spend too much time on the internet rather than communicating face-to-face with other human beings.

J. LONGSTAFF, Buxted, E. Sussex. I THINK that the use of modern technology is partly to blame for the number of young people who feel lonely. I was an only child so I had a great incentive to go out and make friends. I joined the Girl Guides, then my local church youth club, and next the Young Conservatives, where I met my husband at a Hawaiian-themed dance. Finally, I joined the Round Table, which was a great network and included fundraising.

P. E. LANCASTER, Isleworth, W. London. I’m GETTING older (and grumpier), but why is the younger generation so negative? Due to the dearth of radio programmes that cater for oldies, I find myself reluctantly listening to endless whiny, nasal singers performing depressing songs. This is also reflected in the TV soaps. once upon a time, there were laugh-out-loud conversations; now the storylines rely on non-stop violence and depressing issues. When I think back to my teens and 20s during the Sixties and Seventies, everything was much more upbeat and cheerful. Is it a reflection of the world we’re living in? If so, that’s very sad. We need some cheerfulness!

MARIAN PARSLOW, Norwich.