UK youth loneliness epidemic: fivefold rise in friendless young since 2014

A thinktank report documents a sharp rise in loneliness among 11-24 year olds in England, with the number reporting no close friends up fivefold since 2014. Factors cited include youth club closures, unaffordable housing, and social media, reflecting a broader decline in wellbeing. The findings are based on survey data, but causal links remain uncertain.