There Is No Male Loneliness Crisis. What's Actually Happening Is So Much Darker.

One group of people is more isolated than anyone else. Become a member to share 10 free articles a month. Men are lonely, you've probably heard. "Few men will admit it, but it's true of most of them," declared Los Angeles Times columnist Jean Guerrero in one in a tsunami of recent takes on the "male loneliness epidemic." Guerrero partially blamed the "virtual world" and its "pornography and ideological provocation." A Guardian columnist theorized, "Many men are socialized to prioritize strength, independence and stoicism, making it difficult for them to open up and form emotional connections." An Atlantic writer agreed, writing, "Friendships are hard to maintain but the social stigma that some men face when opening up and being vulnerable can make things even harder." A "punk-rock psychologist" told Vice that men have low emotional intelligence. BuzzFeed has cranked out 12 posts about male loneliness in 2026 alone (so far, at least). Some of them are pretty brutal--for example, " 27 Loser Men Whose Actions Single-Handedly Prove the'Male Loneliness Epidemic' Is Self-Inflicted ." The inability of men to form friendships, or even make conversation, with each other is a ready setup for a bit.