Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

Dr. Murthy, thank you so much for being here with us on TED Health.

So today we are digging into a topic that I know that you know well, social connection and loneliness.

We use the word lonely pretty casually now, but from a public health standpoint, what does loneliness actually mean?

And how is it different from simply being alone?

Yeah, I think that framing really helps to ground us.

And you've called loneliness an epidemic.

For people who might hear that and think, how does something emotional turn into a public health issue?

What does the science actually show about its impact on the body, like our heart and our brain and even the immune system?

I am certainly heartened by the fact that we're now making these connections, sharing this critically important data.

It really certainly hits home for me.

Vivek, can you share a story either from your time as Surgeon General or maybe from your own life that changed the way that you think about social connection and health?

I think a lot of people will recognize themselves in that.

I certainly see myself.

From your perspective, what does a healthy social life really look like in day-to-day life?

Gosh, that feels especially relevant right now.

Social media connects millions and millions of us around the world.

And at the same time, it's, of course, linked to rising loneliness, especially among young people, teenagers, the loneliest generation.

What do you think is happening there?

And because, of course, this isn't just a teen issue, an issue for kids, for someone who feels stuck in the scroll, like so many of us, especially when it feels like everyone else is living their lives completely online.

What's a realistic way for us to do a social media reset without feeling totally cut off?