America’s young people are in the grip of a loneliness epidemic. 

The American Psychological Association found last year that 54 per cent of respondents said they felt isolated, while half reported they felt left out or lacked companionship. 

It’s an issue close to the heart of Professor Justin Vaughn, who teaches political science at Coastal Carolina University. He has seen the epidemic’s impact on young people firsthand. 

He recalled his early days of teaching nearly two decades ago, when he says he would walk into a classroom and have to corral students to quieten down. 

Nowadays, he says he is met with silence, as the young adults waiting for him to begin his lecture are buried in their phones. 

‘I realized that my students rarely spoke to one another, and went entire semesters without learning their classmates’ names,’ Vaughn wrote in The Conversation. 

‘Many students seemed unsure how to cross the few feet between them and their peers and make the social connection they craved.’

In an effort to help young people build lasting friendships, Vaughn launched a freshman honors seminar called ‘Friendship & Society,’ where incoming college students can learn about lasting platonic relationships. 

Professor Justin Vaughn at Coastal Carolina University launched a freshman honors seminar called ‘Friendship & Society’

He says he used to walk into a classroom to see students socializing, but now notices that most are buried in their phones (stock photo) 

He explained that one of the key things for forming friendships that people frequently underestimate is repeatedly sharing moments that may seem devoid of significance at the time. This could involve quick conversations or sharing a meal. 

‘Over time, those moments build relational capital, meaning the shared trust and history friends can draw on when life becomes difficult or a disagreement needs repairing,’ Vaughn explained. 

‘That reserve reaches beyond a single relationship. Communities become more connected when people have accumulated enough ordinary experience together to trust one another and keep showing up.’ 

The loneliness epidemic has plagued Americans for years. And for college students, who often feel additional pressure to have thriving social lives, the impacts can be devastating. 

A survey by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute found that only 65 per cent of college students spend more than six hours a week socializing face-to-face with friends. 

Daniel Eisenberg, a professor of health policy and management at UCLA, told The Atlantic in August that smartphones and social media have contributed to increased isolation among young people. 

Cat Moore, who worked as a director for UCLA’s extracurriculars, told the publication that rising inflation and job competitiveness have also contributed to less social interaction, as students feel more pressure to use clubs as networking opportunities instead of ways to make friends. 

Vaughn is working to combat these factors at Coastal Carolina University. His syllabus includes the memoir Stay True, about the author’s experience after a friend’s death, and the nonfiction book Why Brains Need Friends, about the biological importance of connection. 

Students’ assignments also include sharing a meal with classmates and observing public places to see when conversations begin or when students pass by one another without speaking.