Making New Friends Costs Money. It’s Worth It: Erin Lowry

Loneliness and social isolation are often discussed as afflictions of the aging process. Adult children move away, spouses and friends begin to die, and suddenly older people can find themselves spending an inordinate amount of time alone. The sense of isolation can have severe consequences for well-being. Studies have found that social isolation increases the odds of developing hypertension and dementia and even shortens life spans.

Except it isn’t only our aging population that is at high risk for loneliness. Young Americans age 15 to 24 spend 70% less time in person with friends than the same age group did ...