OK computer: Using tech to tackle loneliness

It has become a commonplace observation that technology is making us lonely. Study after [study](https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(17%2930016-8/fulltext) has shown that social media, for example, can increase feelings of social isolation, anxiety and depression.

But technological interventions can also be part of the solution in addressing a problem that is increasingly being seen as a significant worldwide public health issue — one that affects people from all countries and all socio-economic backgrounds.

It’s an awareness of the risks involved with technology and loneliness that may be making governments reluctant to lead in this sphere, said Robin Hewings, the Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research at Campaign to End Loneliness, a UK charity. But that’s not an excuse not to act.

“I think it's right for government to stay involved, and to understand where it can play it helpful role,” he said. “The task is to try to understand the risks and understand opportunities, and then get better at using the fruits of the digital revolution.”

Aside from being wary of the downsides of technology, governments can also be fearful of the agile working practices that come with digital innovation, said Dhruv Sharma, a civil servant with the Scottish government whose 2017 PhD analysed 196 digital loneliness interventions targeted at older people.

While the tech industry may be based around the mantra, "fail fast, fail often", public servants do not have that luxury.

“There is a culture of fear of failure in government, because the government cannot fail,” Sharma said.

So what actually works when it comes to using technology to build community and prevent isolation, and how can governments helpfully get involved? Sharma and Hewings have a few ideas.

Solving two problems at once

Sharma said some of the most effective loneliness interventions are those that solve two problems at once.

He gives the example of GoodGym, a UK initiative founded by former tech consultant Ivo Gormley, in which people sign up to go for a run via an app, and combine that run with an activity that helps an older person, such as a home visit or help with a task around the house.

“You get a notification saying, ‘Such and such a person is about seven miles from you, can you go and fetch them a newspaper? Can you pick up the grocery shopping?’” Sharma said. “The runner gets motivation from trying to help someone, and the older person gets to speak to someone that they wouldn't have met in their life.”

With this model in mind, Sharma launched an initiative in Manchester that linked older people in need of greater social connection with young people in India who wanted to improve their English via Skype sessions.

“These were people who hadn't spoken to anyone in about a week, and this was the only time they could actually get together and speak to each other,” Sharma said of the older participants. Meanwhile, unlike their peers in New Delhi or Mumbai, Indian students in smaller towns and cities lacked regular contact with native English speakers.

By casting the older participants as helpers, rather than just recipients of help, the program put both groups on that same footing, boosting confidence for each side.

Tech that works for people

When considering technological interventions to combat loneliness, it’s important to tailor programs to users’ needs, Hewings said.

He points out that some interventions rely on devices that may not be suitable for older people, who can struggle with touch screens on phones or tablets if they have poor circulation.

“People can take on the message that this just isn't really for them, and it's their fault that they can't make it work when actually, it's the fault of the technology,” he said.

To get around problems like this, No Loneliness, a Norwegian start-up, has developed KOMP, a device operated using a single button that allows older people to connect with friends and family members via text and video.

In a similar vein, a group of academics working on a project called Loneliness in the Digital Age developed Chatr, a device designed for family carers.

Due to the loss of personal and professional connections that come with taking on a full-time care role, carers can often have high rates of loneliness, social isolation and depression. With Chatr, they can exchange experiences directly with their peers through audio messages while also fulfilling their duties to the people in their care.

Another important way governments can help is by providing seniors and other non-working people with ongoing technological support in their homes, Hewing said.

While people in education or workplaces have on-demand tech support to keep their software updated and fix any bugs that crop up, people outside these environments are left to muddle through such problems alone.

“That means that things often won’t work because there isn’t a nice person from IT to come and fix their computer. It's doubly damaging because it can be quite undermining of people's confidence to get engaged, and they will unjustly blame themselves,” he said.

He suggests a government-provided service where people outside work or education can receive friendly support with technology in their homes.

“That's one area where I think there is a clear role for government, and where not very large amounts of money delivered in a sensible and patient way can actually be really helpful.”

From the digital world to the outside world

Some of the most basic existing government services are vital for protecting against loneliness. Research from a team of Dutch and British researchers found that free bus travel was associated with lower rates of loneliness among people over the age of 65.

So rather than seeing digital interventions as an end in themselves, Hewing suggests a role for the government in promoting technology that helps isolated people get out into the world, where they can reap the benefits of person-to-person interaction.

One example is the EU-funded Mobile Age app, which provides older people living in rural areas with information taken from open source government data not just about events that are happening in their region, but also about how they can get there and back safely, with all their needs met.

The app gives details such as whether a bus stop has a bench to sit on, whether there is ample lighting or available toilets en route, giving people the confidence that they can go out and engage with their community safely.

It’s programs like these that best capture how intertwined our digital and ‘real world’ lives have become. And as technology becomes more embedded in daily life, it is becoming impossible to tackle loneliness without it, Sharma said, and that’s why governments have to get involved.

“People see a dichotomy between the physical world and the digital world and there is no such thing left anymore,” he said. — Megan Clement