CIVIC LANE New data indicate that the number of young people in England reporting no close friends has risen sharply since 2014. Researchers are examining a mixture of social-media use, the pandemic and broader changes in how young people socialise. Loneliness can affect wellbeing, education and people's ability to build support networks. There is considerable disagreement over whether technology, families, schools or society at large bears most responsibility. Identifying the main cause could shape what interventions people consider worthwhile.