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Genuine connections: The society of individualism turns into a search for community life as an escape from loneliness.

Trend 01

Genuine connections

Genuine connections

The society of individualism turns into a search for community life as an escape from loneliness.

Trend axes

  • Match fatigue
  • Endless swiping
  • Paradox of choice
  • Dating app burnout

Some figures

18.6%

People in Spain who have met their partner online, compared with the 40% who use these apps, according to the cybersecurity company Kaspersky.

79%

Percentage of Generation Z who said they feel burnt out by dating apps, in a survey carried out by Forbes.

45%

Silicon Valley residents say they feel isolated and lonely, to the point that it has become a public health problem.

€14,141M

Estimated annual cost of loneliness in Spain, equivalent to 1.17% of GDP, according to the report by ONCE’s State Observatory on Unwanted Loneliness.

Fear of loneliness

Loneliness is emerging as one of the great concerns of our time. In a world where, paradoxically, everything is hyperconnected, more and more people suffer a deep fear of isolation.

We have moved from a society focused on individualism to an urgent search for community, especially among younger people, who show a growing interest in finding genuine relationships. An environment fostered by social media, in which authentic interactions are replaced by superficial digital connections.

Likewise, the democratisation of artificial intelligence and the virtualisation of daily life have introduced new forms of communication which, although they offer convenience and personalisation, deepen the feeling of disconnection.

Taking refuge in worlds of data and algorithms widens the distance from the physical and tangible reality, in which relationships develop, change and are subject to the passing of time.

The challenge for society and brands will be to restore the value of face-to-face human relationships and act as facilitators of meaningful connections.

Companies that understand this need will be in a privileged position to fill this gap and help consumers feel less alone by creating experiences and spaces that foster deep bonds and promote emotional wellbeing in an increasingly digitalised environment.

Cases

01 / 05

Zorraquino spotlights

  1. 01

    Despite living in the era of hyperconnection, the fear of loneliness has intensified, revealing a disconnection between digital relationships and people’s real emotional needs.

  2. 02

    There is a growing desire to form genuine connections, as interactions on social media tend to be superficial and do not satisfy the desire to belong and be part of a community.

  3. 03

    Technology has transformed the way we communicate, but it has also deepened the feeling of isolation by distancing people from physical interactions and experiences.

Zorraquino playlist

  • TinderJulia Rubio · 2024
  • ¡Estoy soltero!Los Guajes · 2012
  • Lonely ManTito Ramírez · 2019

More on the trend

References

Pages 26–56 of the report

Specialty specialties: The boom in specialty food products and venues reinvents the idea of the connoisseur.

Next trend · 02

Specialty specialties