"Despite living in the most connected era in history, millions of us feel utterly alone. The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 report even labeled loneliness an "epidemic," comparing its health risks to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But as this emotional void widens, something unexpected has happened. Loneliness itself has become a market. Welcome to the loneliness economy, where companionship, digital or otherwise, can now be bought, streamed, or rented."
"Replika, one of the most downloaded AI chatbot apps in the world, lets users chat with an artificial companion that "learns" about them over time. Some people even describe their Replika as their "soulmate." In Japan, there's a service where you can rent an ossan, literally, an older man, not for romance, but to listen, chat, or stroll through a park."
Japan approved robot companions in 2025 to address kodokushi, or 'lonely deaths', among its rapidly aging population. The United Kingdom appointed a Minister for Loneliness in 2018 after reports showed rising isolation. Many Gen Zers in the U.S. report apps as their closest confidants. The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 report labeled loneliness an 'epidemic' and compared its health risks to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. A loneliness economy has emerged where companionship can be bought, streamed, or rented through AI chatbots, rental companions, solo dining options, and therapy apps. True face-to-face human connection remains essential and must be rebuilt.
Read at Psychology Today
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