Pandemie osamělosti: sociální důsledky

Loneliness among young people represents a significant social phenomenon that is increasingly associated with the development of digital technologies and online communication. While the digital environment offers new opportunities for social connection, it may also influence the experience of loneliness and social belonging in an ambiguous way. The aim of this bachelor’s thesis is to explore how young people aged 18–26 perceive loneliness in the digital environment and how different forms of online communication affect their psychological well-being, the quality of interpersonal relationships, and everyday social functioning. The theoretical part of the thesis is based on a literature review focusing on the concepts of loneliness, social belonging, and digital communication. The empirical part applies a qualitative research approach using focus groups, which makes it possible to capture subjective interpretations of young people’s experiences with online communication. The research findings suggest that the relationship between online communication and the experience of loneliness is not straightforward but is shaped primarily by the ways in which digital technologies are used and by the nature of social interactions. The thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of digital technologies in the experience of loneliness among the younger generation and highlights the importance of considering individual experience when interpreting this phenomenon.