About this guide

Why this guide exists

Feeling alone is one of the hardest things a person can go through, and one of the most common. It is linked to anxiety, depression, poorer sleep, heart disease and dementia. Phones and apps have changed how people meet and spend their time, but loneliness is much older than the internet.

Good information about loneliness exists, but it is scattered across research papers, government reports, apps and websites. This guide puts it in one place, in plain language: what loneliness is, why it happens at every age and in every kind of life, and the many practical ways people find their way back to others. The goal is simple: fewer people feeling alone, and healthier communities for everyone.

Who is behind it

Feeling Alone is an independent project published by Harimedia LLC.

It is independent. It is not connected to any government agency, app, dating or social media company, health care company or religious organization. No one pays to be mentioned or recommended here.

Our promises

• Free, always. Every page and every tool is free, whether or not anyone contributes. No paywalls and no "premium" features, ever.
• Anonymous. There is nothing to sign up for, and you never have to give your name.
• No ads, no affiliate links, no sponsored content. When the guide names an app, a website or an organization, it is because it may be useful, not because anyone paid.
• No tracking and no cookies. This site does not use analytics or any third-party scripts.
• What you type stays with you. Your answers, checklists and lists are saved only in your own browser. See Your privacy.

How the information is researched

• Reliable sources first: the U.S. Surgeon General, the World Health Organization, the National Academies, the CDC and NIH, and peer-reviewed research. Each page lists its sources at the bottom.
• Every statistic is dated and sourced. Tap a figure to see where it comes from.
• Honest about what is known. Research on loneliness is growing fast. Where studies show a link but not a cause, or where experts disagree, the guide says so.
• Apps and websites change often. Descriptions are dated, and checked at least once a year.

What this guide is not

This is general information, not medical, psychological or legal advice. It can't diagnose anyone or replace a doctor, counselor or therapist. If you are struggling, please talk to someone: see getting help and someone to talk to.

Corrections and contact

Found a mistake, a broken link or an app that has changed? Please write to contact@feelingalone.org. Tell us the page and what looks wrong. Suggestions for new topics are welcome too. We can't offer counseling or crisis help by email; if you need to talk, see crisis lines.

See Contact.

Supporting the guide

The guide is free and will stay free. If it helped you, you can chip in to help pay for the research, the yearly checking and the website itself. How support works.