We live in a very small, tight-knit digital world in which the human race has never been so effortlessly connected, but we are more lonely than ever. It’s an odd paradox, isn’t it?
You would expect the opposite to be true, but it isn’t. The digital age has ensured we can chat online with vast numbers of people from all four corners of the earth or jump on a dating app and find our inch-perfect match in minutes.
Video calls enable us to engage with people thousands of miles away in 4K clarity, and social media platforms bring daily updates from friends and acquaintances directly to our screens.
But despite all of those things, the physical connection remains out of reach for a growing number of people. It is a problem that is leading some to seek companionship in more imaginative, unconventional ways – like owning a sex doll, for example.
But can these lifelike figures truly offer a respite from the deep depths of loneliness, and what are the implications? Let’s explore.
The Rising Epidemic of Loneliness
You might feel that the term ‘epidemic’ is a strong choice of word, but make no mistake about it: vast numbers of people really are quite lonely right now.
According to one recent mental health study, just over one-third of all Americans are currently experiencing feelings of loneliness, to some degree, with a further one-third of those people experiencing ‘sexual isolation’ or long, unhealthy periods without sexual contact of any kind.
Of course, loneliness is certainly not a new phenomenon, but our attitudes toward angst seem to have changed. Not too long ago, feeling lonely was brushed aside as a fleeting emotion, one that everyone felt and quickly overcame.
But times have changed, and so have our understandings.
The Problem With Loneliness
Loneliness is quite often misunderstood by those who haven’t experienced it. The issue is more than just a brief, momentary feeling that goes away after a day or two.
Real loneliness is a deep-seated sense of isolation that can arise from various corners of our life. The lack of social connections and the absence of meaningful relationships, or even just living alone, are the most common factors.
But loneliness isn’t just an emotional pitfall: it has been linked to some rather unsettling health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, and with so many people experiencing loneliness, it presents a concerning picture for a vast number of people.
And if that is not concerning enough, another recent study demonstrates that those battling loneliness had a staggering 50% greater chance of facing early mortality, in contrast to those feeling anchored in their social ties.
A Modern Solution
While traditional solutions to combat loneliness often revolve around joining social groups, engaging in community activities, or the age-old solution of seeking therapy, an interesting modern remedy has risen in the form of very lifelike, highly advanced, and incredibly beautiful silicone sex doll.
Though their primary design is for sexual purposes, many people are now considering them as companions to help ease feelings of isolation. But what is even more interesting is the sheer numbers involved. This is certainly no passing fad – this is the start of a very real niche.
So, why the sudden spike in real love doll sales among the ‘lonely’ demographic?
For some, the appeal of these dolls is pretty straightforward – they serve as an immediate remedy to sexual isolation. However, for many others, these lifelike figures also provide a degree of companionship, a presence to break the empty monotony in a room.