Alone Together Introduction Research Concept Target Audience ValueImpact

Alone Together

Introduction • Research • Concept • Target Audience • Value/Impact

What is Loneliness?

What is Loneliness? • Loneliness can be understood as an individual’s personal, subjective sense of lacking desired affection, closeness, and social interaction with others.

What causes loneliness? • Fear of humiliation – This can be debilitating that causes self-induced isolation. • Fear of rejection – Due to the rejection, many have experienced from being bullied, neglected or child abuse, they suffer from the fear of rejection, which can lead to social anxiety. • Unable to fit in – Individuals can feel like a misfit, and have to try to be like everyone, instead of standing out and being rejected because of it.

Why does it affect young people? • Experts say it can affect young people because they’re at a stage in life where they’re discovering themselves. • The ages 16 -24, people generally go through a time of identity change and learning how to handle their emotions, which can lead to a feeling of isolation.

The Jo Cox Commission • Jo Cox an MP, set a campaign to raise the profile of the hidden crisis of loneliness. • It’s purpose was to find ways to reduce loneliness in the UK.

Issues • Loneliness affects our mental and physical health which can lead to social anxiety, depression, social isolation, addiction (drugs/alcohol) and suicide. • A lot of people feel lonely, and lack social connection with others. It’s something that no one should suffer, but a lot of people do. And the last thing they want to do it talk about it.

Statistics/Figures • Young people feel lonelier than any other age group. • Older people might be more resilient. • Loneliness affects 9 million people in the UK, and being lonely is bad for the average person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. • 46% of UK students admit to loneliness during their time at university.

A study from the Office for National Statistics, found out that almost 10% of people aged 16 -24 were always or often felt lonely – the highest proportion of any age group. This was more than 3 times higher than people aged 65 and over. The ONS says that one of the possible reasons for this is because “people become more resilient to loneliness as they get older, possibly through the experience of significant life events and life transitions. ”

Another significant difference was found by gender—women reported feeling lonely more frequently than men.

Solutions • Find distracting activities or work, study, hobbies. • Join social clubs or take up new social activities. • Start a conversation with someone. • Talk to friends and family about what you’re going through.

Concept • My concept is to design an app which is aimed at young people specifically students who are in university who feel lonely or are experiencing loneliness, which will help them connect with new people. • The app is uses a GPS signal which allows students who are on the app to locate other students who are in the vicinity. • They will be able to create their profile where they add a profile picture and fill in their name and age. • From there it will locate people near them who have the app and begin having a conversation.

Concept

Target Audience • My target audience is aged 18 -24. • It’s specifically aimed at young adults who are in university because there are students who are surrounded with people but still feel lonely. • It would also be a lot more beneficial for someone who is a fresher and just started university because it would be a faster way to meet new students.

Value/Impact • The impact this will have is that it’ll allow students to make connections then become friends in real life. • Someone suffering from loneliness, it gives them the opportunity to talk to someone and that can go a long way for them.