Loneliness affects nearly one in six people globally, with adolescents being the most affected at 24.3%, according to a report by the WHO Commission on Social Relations. This finding contradicts claims by some figures in the manosphere, such as Andrew Tate, who has built his business on the idea of a "male loneliness epidemic." The report notes little difference between women and men in overall loneliness rates (16.1% versus 15.4%). Loneliness is more common among adolescents and young adults, especially in low-income countries, where it affects one in four. Factors such as age, income level, geography, and social conditions appear to weigh at least as much as gender in the experience of loneliness, which is associated with about 871,000 deaths worldwide each year. In France, the Foundation of France found that nearly a third of the population is in a state of social isolation, with one in four feeling lonely. The study also shows that 28% of residents in large urban areas feel lonely, compared to 21% in rural areas, although social isolation is more pronounced in rural areas (14% versus 9%). People with low incomes are up to three times more isolated than those with high incomes, and nearly half of the unemployed report feeling lonely, compared to a quarter of those in employment. In the United States, a Pew Research Center survey of 6,204 adults reveals that the least-educated, the least affluent, and those who are not married are among those who most often report feeling lonely all the time or almost all the time. These are also the groups least optimistic about their future. Isaac Bledsoe, a principal research assistant, and his colleague Ben Smith, from the American Institute for Boys and Men, highlight that people without a university degree have experienced a stronger decline in the number of their friends over time and report greater loneliness than those with degrees. Those with degrees are also better integrated into their communities and social networks and experience lower levels of isolation and suicide. Bledsoe emphasizes that the need for social connection appears more concentrated among those without a university degree and that this gap deserves more attention. According to the Pew Research Center study, men turn to their surroundings less often than women to find connection or emotional support, although about three-quarters of adults say they would very likely turn to their spouse in need. Men and women have the same chances of having at least one close friend, but men communicate less frequently with their close ones than women. Among women, 71% believe that their groups of friends have a positive effect on their well-being, compared to only 57% among men regarding their groups of friends. Isaac Bledsoe observes that men generally report a stronger sense of disconnection: not feeling to belong to any group or community, or feeling that their place in the world is insignificant. His work also shows that married men and fathers socialize more than single men. However, he argues that this has little to do with the manosphere's thesis that male loneliness results from women abandoning men. Instead, he suggests that promoting positive male spaces, mentoring, and a greater number of male mental health professionals will be more effective in encouraging male connections than focusing on these opinions. He warns that the gender gap may be more significant in social isolation, which is a more objective measure than self-reported loneliness. Men may report slightly less often that they can show their true selves in front of others or have enough close people to rely on, suggesting they may be more socially isolated, even if they do not report feeling lonely more often than women. A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows that young people in England are increasingly isolating themselves from one another. One in twenty says they have no close friends, compared to one in a hundred ten years ago: the proportion of young people aged 11 to 24 without a close friend has therefore multiplied by five. These figures are not specific to England. In France, an Ipsos survey conducted for the dating app Hinge indicates that 62% of Generation Z members feel lonely. Several factors may explain the higher prevalence of loneliness among adolescents. Élodie Gentina, a researcher and professor at IÉSEG School of Management, notes that adolescence is a decisive period during which young people build their identity by seeking to belong to a peer group. At this stage, they may suffer from low self-esteem or lack of confidence, which makes it more difficult to build a stable identity. Gentina also points out that adolescents turn to social networks and remain hyperconnected via their smartphones, risking a gap between online and offline socialization, with more superficial relationships. Girls develop more face-to-face relationships than boys, who are more comfortable with online relationships, but they tend to have lower self-esteem. Marlies Maes, a researcher at the University of Utrecht, questions the idea of greater loneliness among adolescents, noting that the gender difference in the perception of loneliness among adolescents is less pronounced. She highlights that loneliness is not simply about relational expectations or social needs, nor the number of relationships or their quality: loneliness is the feeling of imbalance between what one has and what one would like to have. A study conducted by the University of Exeter (United Kingdom) and the University of Utrecht (Netherlands), to which Maes participated, shows that gender can influence social relationships and, therefore, the way loneliness is experienced. The rules and menopause offer an example: the pain caused by premenstrual symptoms or endometriosis, when it is stigmatizing or disabling, can contribute to social isolation, especially among adolescents. Menopausal symptoms can also lead adult women to withdraw from social activities. The study highlights the importance of taking into account not only the sex assigned at birth but also gender identity, gender roles, and sexual orientation, considering the social contexts in which people can define and express themselves—especially when it comes to gender diversity. Researchers recall that one feels more loneliness in environments where one is underrepresented, marginalized, or devalued. Gender roles can also feed loneliness both among those who adopt them and those who deviate from them: both those who conform to patriarchal norms to preserve their social connections and women who pursue careers in stereotypically male domains. Studies conducted in several countries report higher levels of loneliness and worse social and mental health among people of diverse genders. An online survey of 50,054 full-time Norwegian students showed that transgender students reported significantly higher psychosocial burden. Another study in Australia established that adults LGBTQIA+ experienced higher levels of loneliness, depression, and social anxiety than the non-LGBTQIA+ comparison group. However, global statistics on people of diverse genders remain rare. The question may not be who is the most lonely, but who has the right to be seen, supported, and connected—and what happens to those whose needs are ignored or minimized. Building stronger relationships, support networks, and spaces where asking for help is not perceived as weakness may be the answer.