Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: Loneliness stems from losing the sense of friendship

WISE NEWS PRESS / ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE — DECEMBER 27, 2025

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Uskudar University, warned that modern society is facing a profound crisis of isolation, stating that the loss of authentic friendship is driving a global surge in loneliness and depression.

Speaking at the 7th International Loneliness Symposium titled "Youth and Loneliness," Tarhan highlighted alarming data from a BBC and Manchester University study involving 55,000 people, which found that 40% of youths aged 16-24 feel "very lonely," compared to just 27% of those over 75. Experts at the symposium discussed how digital platforms have replaced emotional depth with superficial interaction, leading to a rise in what is termed "California Syndrome"—a condition characterized by hedonism, narcissism, loneliness, and depression.

The rise of California Syndrome and hedonism

Prof. Tarhan noted that the modern pursuit of happiness has been reduced to "hedonic pleasure" at the expense of "eudaimonic meaning." He argued that while pleasure-seeking triggers temporary dopamine releases, true long-term happiness is linked to serotonin and a sense of purpose. "The capitalist system has prioritized hedonic pleasure, leading to a narcissism epidemic. Self-centered individuals may feel fine while successful, but they experience deep loneliness during illness, aging, or hardship," Tarhan explained.

Digital isolation: Connection without depth

The symposium addressed the paradox of the digital age: being constantly connected yet feeling unheard. Prof. Tarhan defined the current state of youth as "digital loneliness," noting that virtual platforms facilitate social sharing but lack emotional transfer. This trend has become so severe that nations like the UK and Japan have established "Ministries of Loneliness" to combat what the United Nations now classifies as a threat equal to climate change and income inequality.

Taking pleasure in isolation: A new danger

Uskudar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör added that the most dangerous stage of this crisis is the shift toward finding pleasure in being alone. She observed that technology has weakened family bonds to the point where individuals living in the same house communicate primarily through devices. "We are undergoing a process of 'reification' where we integrate with machines rather than people. We are surrendering our minds to AI and our emotions to the virtual world," Güngör warned.

Loneliness is a transformable social issue

Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, who chaired the symposium committee, shared findings from the "Youth, Digitalization, and Loneliness" survey conducted across Türkiye. He emphasized that loneliness should not be accepted as fate but treated as a transformable social issue. With participants from six countries—including Finland, Switzerland, and Azerbaijan—the symposium aimed to establish an academic foundation for solutions rather than just defining the problem.

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