People are more connected than ever, so why is loneliness literally killing us? Glenn Beck gives an uncomfortable answer

The useful part

In this digital age we live in, there's never been more ways to connect with people thanks to the internet — and yet loneliness and social isolation are so extreme, they were declared an epidemic by the last surgeon general. In his advisory, Vivek Murthy warned: "Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29% respectively. More broadly, lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

How it works

• poor or insufficient social connection is associated with increased risk of disease, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
• it is associated with increased risk for anxiety, depression, and dementia." Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck is deeply concerned for Americans impacted by loneliness.
• It's a medical condition — and it has now a body count in America," he says, noting that the issue is more prevalent among men.
• These dismal statistics, he notes, ironically do not mirror what most people's social media accounts say.
• ...You're in touch with more human beings before breakfast than your great-grandfather met in h...

Details worth keeping

The cost of extreme loneliness and isolation is steeper than most realize. "In 1995, 55% of American men said they had at least six close friends. "You might have 900 friends, 1,400 friends on your phone.