We have entered a loneliness epidemic. Humans are wired for connection, yet modern life has left many men more isolated than ever. Yet, while loneliness has increasingly been recognized as a public health emergency for all, men face unique challenges—they are less likely to seek emotional support and, as of 2022, are at a higher risk of suicide than ever before. Male social detachment is more than just an emotional burden—it erodes the relationships that fuel success in work, school, and community life.
Few thinkers offer a better framework for understanding this crisis than Émile Durkheim. In “Suicide” (1897), Durkheim examined how varying levels of social integration and regulation influence mental health and well-being, arguing that suicide is not purely an individual act but often a reflection of broader societal conditions. He categorized suicide into four types: egoistic suicide, caused by a lack of social ties; altruistic suicide, resulting from excessive integration into a group; anomic suicide, occurring when social norms break down; and fatalistic suicide, caused by excessive societal control.
Men today experience higher suicide rates partly because of a lack of strong social ties and rapidly changing social norms. Anomic suicide, or anomie, refers to a state of normlessness, where rapid social change, economic instability, or the erosion of institutions leaves individuals feeling disconnected and adrift. The resulting sense of isolation and uncertainty contributes to rising mental health crises, including higher rates of depression and suicide, particularly among men. Historically, men’s identities were tied to roles embedded in stable institutions like churches or local organizations, which provided both economic stability and social connection. As these structures have eroded or moved online, many men today lack clear pathways to personal connection.
The erosion of stable, organized groups has had dire consequences. The CDC noted that men account for nearly 80% of all American suicides, with unmarried and socially isolated men among the most vulnerable. Moreover, according to the NIH, the age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States increased by 35.2% from 2000 to 2018. Between 2020 and 2021, the suicide rates for males aged 15-24 “significantly increased.” These statistics support Durkheim’s analysis, highlighting how the absence of communal bonds leads to alienation and, ultimately, self-destructive behavior.
One of the most significant contributors to the male loneliness crisis is the decline of traditional religious institutions. Durkheim found that Catholics had lower suicide rates than Protestants, which he attributed to the more communal, tightly integrated structure of Catholicism compared to the more individualistic nature of Protestantism.
Recently in the U.S., religious participation has plummeted and local community engagement has declined. In 1972, only about 5% of Americans identified as religiously unaffiliated; by 2022, that number had risen to 29%. Over the same period, the percentage of observing Christians in the U.S. fell from roughly 90% to 57%.
Since 1991, the number of men who have not attended church outside of a special service has risen by 13%. As of the summer of 2023, the Pew Research Center found that around 64% of religiously unaffiliated people are men. Before the world moved digital, men often found solidarity in religious groups where camaraderie, support, and purpose were readily available. As male religious participation has declined, friendships have become less structured and more dependent on individual initiative—a skill that many men struggle to develop.
Education, or lack thereof, has also played a crucial role in fueling this crisis. Men are enrolling in and completing higher education at declining rates, leading to decreased economic opportunities and long-term career instability. The Pew Research Center found that the percentage of young men who have completed high school and are now seeking a college degree is down from 47% in 2011 to 39% in 2022. Men without college degrees go on to earn less than men with college degrees and are unemployed at a higher rate. Ultimately, this series of causes and effects contribute to increased male loneliness and subsequent mental harm.
As men’s education rates continue to decline, marriage rates have also plummeted. Over the past 50 years, the American marriage rate has fallen by approximately 50%. While many factors contribute to this decline, one key shift is that women—now earning college degrees at higher rates than men—are less financially dependent on marriage. Durkheim argued that marriage provided a crucial stabilizing force, particularly for men, by reinforcing social bonds and emotional support. The NIH noted that since 1970 “men derive[d] greater health benefits from marriage than women [did].” The American Survey Center also noted that “men who get married and have kids are happier than other men.” With fewer men marrying, many lack the built-in social integration that marriage once provided, leaving them at higher risk of loneliness and depression.
In addition to structural shifts, technology has played a major role in male loneliness. According to Gallup, teens are spending an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media, with 48% of male teens spending more than four hours a day. While digital communication allows for connection across the globe, it often serves as an inadequate substitute rather than a positive supplement for real-life social interaction. UC Davis Health shows that excessive social media use increases feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. While these platforms can create a sense of community, they lack the depth and emotional reciprocity of in-person relationships.
Research has shown that men today report having fewer close friends than ever before. Over the last thirty years, the number of men who reported having six or more close friends has halved. Since 1990, the number of men who reported having zero close friends has increased fivefold.
Moreover, the rise of digital entertainment—video games, streaming services, and online forums—has further discouraged in-person socialization. Many men retreat into digital spaces that offer temporary distractions but fail to provide lasting connections.
One of the most damaging aspects of social media is its fostering of social comparison. Men scrolling through Instagram or TikTok are constantly bombarded with carefully curated videos of success, wealth, and happiness—often leading to feelings of inadequacy or isolation. Unlike previous generations, where male friendships were built through real-life activities, today’s digital age encourages a more detached, performative form of interaction.
The loneliest men left without strong social institutions, support systems, or close friendships turn to the internet not just for entertainment, but for identity and belonging. Men absent-mindedly engage in short-form content on Instagram. What begins as harmless scrolling can quickly spiral into a radicalizing feedback loop, where isolated men are drawn toward radicalizing influencers.
These influencers validate alienated men’s frustrations, offering easy explanations for complex problems. They promise that by adopting their worldview—often steeped in misogyny or rigid gender roles—men can reclaim their lost status. The more time these men spend in these digital echo chambers, the more they become disconnected from reality, adopting increasingly extreme views.
Male loneliness is not simply a personal failing—it is the result of deep structural shifts that have left many lonely men without clear pathways to connection. The erosion of traditional social institutions, the decline of educational and economic stability, and the rise of digital isolation have all contributed to this crisis. If Durkheim was right, and human well-being depends on social integration, then the solution lies in rebuilding the connections that modern society has eroded.
If we are serious about addressing this crisis, we must rebuild the social structures that Durkheim argued are essential for stability and belonging. Durkheim saw occupational groups as a means to counteract the fragmentation of modern society—associations where individuals share a common goal or purpose. Today, this could be educational programs, mentorship networks, or professional organizations that provide men with stability and shared identity. If society fails to address the fragmenting society, male loneliness will continue to be a growing public health concern. The challenge ahead is not just about countering individual male loneliness, but rather about ensuring systemic issues are tackled in the face of policy or intervention.
Luke Wagner ’26 (lukewagner@college.harvard.edu) is the Vice President of the Harvard Independent.