Although the World Happiness Report by the Wellbeing Research Center at Oxford University in the UK ranks this country as the second happiest in Southeast Asia, there are findings that indicate a high level of loneliness, particularly among the younger generation.
A study conducted by Meta-Gallup reveals that Generation Z in this country, who have grown up with digital technology, experience significant levels of loneliness, highlighting the disconnect between digital connectivity and social well-being.
According to the Global School-based Student Health Survey, the number of Filipino teenagers aged 13 to 17 who often feel lonely increased from 19.4 percent in 2015 to 24.2 percent in 2019, as reported by CNA.
Impact of the Pandemic on Social Well-being
Noel Reyes, Director of the National Center for Mental Health, emphasized that "peer companionship" are vital for Filipino society. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its prolonged isolation and lockdowns, has exacerbated levels of loneliness, as noted in the Meta-Gallup survey.
The lockdowns in the Philippines were among the longest in the world, with full in-person classes resuming only in November 2022 and the public health emergency status being lifted just last July.
According to Reyes, the country is still in the process of recovery. However, even before the pandemic, there was already a "sense of disconnection" socially, as highlighted by psychiatrist Dinah Nadera.
The Influence of Social Media Use
Excessive social media use has also been linked to increased loneliness. While social media may provide temporary happiness, it does not foster real long-term relationships.
The Philippines, known as the social media capital of the world for the past decade, has 87 million social media users, equivalent to 73% of its total population. This number has increased by 8% since the beginning of last year, according to the Digital 2024 report from Meltwater and We Are Social. The country also ranks fourth in terms of time spent on social media, with the average user spending three hours and 34 minutes per day.
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Problem for Children with Migrant Worker Parents
Another social phenomenon contributing to the high levels of loneliness among Filipino teenagers is that many parents work abroad, leaving their children for most of their childhood.
Last year, there were 2.33 million Filipino migrant workers overseas. One-third of Filipino teenagers grow up without both biological parents, and in some cases, parents working in the city only return home occasionally.
