The Loneliness Epidemic (And How We Can Actually Fix It)
- info4613255
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 7
If you’ve ever stared at your phone waiting for someone…anyone…to ask to hang out, congratulations! You’ve experienced modern loneliness. It’s not the Victorian‑era “ alone in a tower” kind. It’s the “everyone is alive, online and somehow still impossible to schedule with” kind.
The good news is that it's easy to avoid once you overcome the mental load of planning to connect with a friend IRL. This article will show you how, but first...
Wait… are we really in a loneliness epidemic?
Short answer: yes, but not for the reasons you think. In Australia, around one in six people aged 15+ say they often feel very lonely. That’s 17% of the population wandering around thinking, “Is it just me?” And during the pandemic, loneliness spiked dramatically - 45% of Australians reported feeling lonely at least some of the time in a single week. That’s almost half the country collectively sighing into their sourdough starters.
But here’s the twist…
Loneliness isn’t about being alone. it’s about not seeing friends
We tend to imagine loneliness as a person sitting solo at a café, sipping a latte and staring wistfully into the distance. But the data tells a different story. The real driver? A drop in social contact.
The frequency of meeting socially has been declining for decades, and by 2022, 4.8% of Australians reported never meeting socially, more than double pre‑pandemic levels.
That’s not “introvert bliss.” That’s “my friends and I haven’t found a time that works since 2019.”
Loneliness isn’t about solitude. It’s about disconnection, the gap between wanting to see people and actually managing to do it.
Why does this matter?
Because loneliness isn’t just a vibe. It’s a health issue.
Research shows that weak social connections are linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes, even comparable to major lifestyle risks.
Translation: your weekly catch‑up is basically a wellness ritual. Like yoga, but with fries.
So… how do we fix loneliness?
Good news: the solution isn’t complicated. It’s human.
1. See your friends more often (yes, really)
Even small increases in social contact reduce loneliness. A coffee. A walk. A chaotic group dinner where no one can split the bill properly. It all counts.
2. Stop letting the group chat sabotage your social life
Group chats are where plans go to die. Someone suggests a date. Someone else says “I can’t that day.” Someone else reacts with a thumbs‑up. Someone else disappears for 48 hours. Suddenly it’s 2027.
3. Make plans easier to lock in
People aren’t flaky, they’re overwhelmed. The easier it is to coordinate, the more likely it is to happen.
4. Join or support community groups
Volunteering, clubs, and community events are proven buffers against loneliness. Humans are pack animals. We thrive in groups and being a part of a community, no matter how big or small.
5. Be the friend who presses “go”
Every group has one person who actually makes the plan. If you’re reading this… it might be you.
What is Gooday?
Gooday is the free social planning app and web platform that helps groups find a time that works for everyone, without the chaos of group chats! Whether you’re organising a Galentine’s dinner, a birthday, a weekend away, or a casual catch‑up, Gooday compares everyone’s availability and suggests the best times instantly.
Friends can join your plan via a simple link (no account needed to respond), and once a time is confirmed, Gooday sends the booking to the venue and syncs it to everyone’s calendars automatically. No more double‑booking, no more “Who’s coming?”, and no more chasing replies.
For small businesses, social clubs, and community organisers, Gooday also offers a powerful booking and events dashboard. Hosts can publish availability, take bookings, manage attendees and reach new audiences, all in one place!
Gooday makes planning simple for everyone: friends, groups, and the venues that bring people together.
Visit Gooday's website.
Download the app.
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