Nish Kumar

In the age of dating apps and social media, we're more connected than ever. So why are so many of us feeling socially isolated or struggling to find love? And what's more, who is profiting from the disconnect. Here to help us understand is Sian Fay, journalist and author of the bestseller, The Transgender Issue, which is a rigorous and precise intervention into Britain's anti-trans backlash.

In the age of dating apps and social media, we're more connected than ever. So why are so many of us feeling socially isolated or struggling to find love? And what's more, who is profiting from the disconnect. Here to help us understand is Sian Fay, journalist and author of the bestseller, The Transgender Issue, which is a rigorous and precise intervention into Britain's anti-trans backlash.

Sian has since spent years dishing out life and love advice via her Vogue column, Dear Sian. And building on this, her new book, Love in Exile, explores the highly politicised terrain of modern love and why it eludes us. Sian, welcome to Podsaver UK. Hi, thank you for having me.

Sian has since spent years dishing out life and love advice via her Vogue column, Dear Sian. And building on this, her new book, Love in Exile, explores the highly politicised terrain of modern love and why it eludes us. Sian, welcome to Podsaver UK. Hi, thank you for having me.

You argued that under capitalism, love is also privatised. There are private companies influencing our sort of love lives and romantic lives, right? Maybe now more so than ever, because of things like dating apps, about 4.4 million people in the UK use them, and about a quarter of the users pay for those services, generating around 150 million quid in annual revenue for the companies behind them.

You argued that under capitalism, love is also privatised. There are private companies influencing our sort of love lives and romantic lives, right? Maybe now more so than ever, because of things like dating apps, about 4.4 million people in the UK use them, and about a quarter of the users pay for those services, generating around 150 million quid in annual revenue for the companies behind them.

I understand that these companies exist as private companies, they make a profit, but there is something almost like Mr. Burnsy. Yeah. about turning a profit from people trying to find a partner.

I understand that these companies exist as private companies, they make a profit, but there is something almost like Mr. Burnsy. Yeah. about turning a profit from people trying to find a partner.

I love the book and I thought it was so beautifully written. But one of the things I thought was really interesting about it specifically was the like,

I love the book and I thought it was so beautifully written. But one of the things I thought was really interesting about it specifically was the like,

idea that male loneliness is a huge driver in massive societal problems and you know part of that is the way that capitalism has kind of taken a cleaver to lots of organizations like unions and community centers and social clubs that would have normally been places for men to socialize and in that void the kind of manosphere has sort of stepped into it and that has massive

idea that male loneliness is a huge driver in massive societal problems and you know part of that is the way that capitalism has kind of taken a cleaver to lots of organizations like unions and community centers and social clubs that would have normally been places for men to socialize and in that void the kind of manosphere has sort of stepped into it and that has massive

political ramifications for all of us, right? Like it's a really interesting thing to talk about because the manosphere now is like a massive political problem for us. It's a driver behind Trump's election in the States. It's not really something people want to talk about, male loneliness and the political consequences of it.

political ramifications for all of us, right? Like it's a really interesting thing to talk about because the manosphere now is like a massive political problem for us. It's a driver behind Trump's election in the States. It's not really something people want to talk about, male loneliness and the political consequences of it.

There's been a few things recently that have reviewed the kind of tenor of cultural conversation, whether it was about gender, race or class in the kind of late 90s and early 2000s that have...

There's been a few things recently that have reviewed the kind of tenor of cultural conversation, whether it was about gender, race or class in the kind of late 90s and early 2000s that have...

In this instance, the threat is specifically in various forms, the three people currently talking on this podcast.

In this instance, the threat is specifically in various forms, the three people currently talking on this podcast.

Sean, thank you so much for joining us on Pod Save the UK. Love in Exile is a fantastic book and it's out now. And if you're listening to the podcast, I'm holding up the cover next to my face. Now, after the break, we're going to be looking into another area affecting our mental health, social media. Should the government be getting tougher on regulating it?

Sean, thank you so much for joining us on Pod Save the UK. Love in Exile is a fantastic book and it's out now. And if you're listening to the podcast, I'm holding up the cover next to my face. Now, after the break, we're going to be looking into another area affecting our mental health, social media. Should the government be getting tougher on regulating it?