Phones and other technology are fuelling a loneliness epidemic amongst the young

TECHNOLOGY is fuelling a loneliness epidemic by removing the need for people to meet in real life, a minister has warned.

Tracey Crouch, the first loneliness minister, says gadgets make it easier for people to work and communicate from the comfort of their home.

But it means fewer people engage with their local community or colleagues - or even say hello to neighbours.

Miss Crouch said kids and young people are particularly vulnerable, with "virtual" relationships limiting opportunities for "real" interactions.

She said: "Loneliness is an extremely important public health challenge that we face. Why are up to 9 million people in the UK lonely?

"The truth is there are multiple reasons including technology reducing the need for face-to-face contact although we do acknowledge the power that it has to bring people together as well.

"There are fewer people participating in community groups or speaking even just to their next-door neighbours.

"An increasing number of jobs being done remotely or alone, which means that even work is becoming isolating.

"When we’re talking about younger age groups and their propensity towards loneliness that could be as a consequence to that digital connection and the difference between having a virtual relationship and a real relationship.

"At the same time, for older people, that access to technology could be the solution to loneliness and isolation."

Loneliness has previously been thought to mostly affect the elderly. But a study by the Office for National Statistics found found students are more likely than over-75s to be socially isolated.

Figures published in April showed 10% of 16 to 24-year-olds were often or always lonely, compared with just 3% of pensioners.

The survey showed 23% of young adults said they were lonely some of the time, falling to 18% for the 25 to 34 age group and to 17% among over-75s.

Dr Dawn Snape, from the ONS, yesterday told the Public Health England annual conference that social media is creating new problems for younger generations.

She said: "This is a pervasive thing and this existed since time immemorial. But there are some new things as well.

"Children, who are hugely, hugely connected, young people who are hugely connected, within the space of seconds can know that they have been left out of something and can see it happening in real time.

"That they are being left out of something that their friends are doing, that is happening right now and they are sitting there for three hours watching their friends at a party knowing everything that is happening at the party that they haven’t been invited to.

"I think that’s the first generation that has had to deal with that, and the repercussions of that.

"I have children aged 16 and 18 and talking to them about it, they say definitely it is horrifying.

"You are watching this happening and you feel terribly lonely... the desperation of feeling that you have been left out of a friendship group."