if I had died at 22 it would have taken weeks before anyone would have noticed
weeks before anyone would have noticed
weeks before anyone would have noticed because at 22 I was studying I lived on
because at 22 I was studying I lived on
because at 22 I was studying I lived on my own and I’d pulled myself away from
my own and I’d pulled myself away from
my own and I’d pulled myself away from everyone without anyone really noticing
everyone without anyone really noticing
everyone without anyone really noticing the next minutes will not be about me it
the next minutes will not be about me it
the next minutes will not be about me it will however be about the work that I’m
will however be about the work that I’m
will however be about the work that I’m trying to do because two years ago I
trying to do because two years ago I
trying to do because two years ago I decided to put an end to loneliness the
decided to put an end to loneliness the
decided to put an end to loneliness the loneliness that I and my co-founders had
loneliness that I and my co-founders had
loneliness that I and my co-founders had experienced in our own lifes
experienced in our own lifes
experienced in our own lifes was enough for us to quit our jobs and
was enough for us to quit our jobs and
was enough for us to quit our jobs and start a company called no isolation we
start a company called no isolation we
start a company called no isolation we had no idea of what we were getting into
had no idea of what we were getting into
had no idea of what we were getting into and how big the issue really was and I
and how big the issue really was and I
and how big the issue really was and I don’t think that you do either
don’t think that you do either
don’t think that you do either loneliness is not just a sad feeling
loneliness is not just a sad feeling
loneliness is not just a sad feeling that we need to get rid of because we
that we need to get rid of because we
that we need to get rid of because we want people to be slightly more happy
want people to be slightly more happy
want people to be slightly more happy loneliness has dangerous people
loneliness has dangerous people
loneliness has dangerous people suffering from loneliness is in a
suffering from loneliness is in a
suffering from loneliness is in a constant fight or flight mode a stress
constant fight or flight mode a stress
constant fight or flight mode a stress mode very much equal to the one I am I’m
mode very much equal to the one I am I’m
mode very much equal to the one I am I’m experiencing right now only there’s a
experiencing right now only there’s a
experiencing right now only there’s a huge difference between me experiencing
huge difference between me experiencing
huge difference between me experiencing this for a couple of minutes now and
this for a couple of minutes now and
this for a couple of minutes now and living with it three years these
living with it three years these
living with it three years these increased stress levels lead to a number
increased stress levels lead to a number
increased stress levels lead to a number of things but there are some
of things but there are some
of things but there are some consequences that are more severe than
consequences that are more severe than
consequences that are more severe than others several studies have shown that
others several studies have shown that
others several studies have shown that feeling lonely results in a 29%
feeling lonely results in a 29%
feeling lonely results in a 29% increased risk of heart disease feeling
increased risk of heart disease feeling
increased risk of heart disease feeling lonely also increases the risk of having
lonely also increases the risk of having
lonely also increases the risk of having a stroke with 32 percent you might not
a stroke with 32 percent you might not
a stroke with 32 percent you might not believe it but when it comes to heart
believe it but when it comes to heart
believe it but when it comes to heart disease loneliness is a bigger killer
disease loneliness is a bigger killer
disease loneliness is a bigger killer than obesity so if we could do our own
than obesity so if we could do our own
than obesity so if we could do our own mini experiments and all of you could
mini experiments and all of you could
mini experiments and all of you could raise your hands and please keep it
raise your hands and please keep it
raise your hands and please keep it there until told otherwise so think
there until told otherwise so think
there until told otherwise so think about the feeling of being all alone how
about the feeling of being all alone how
about the feeling of being all alone how it is like to not have anyone you feel
it is like to not have anyone you feel
it is like to not have anyone you feel you can talk to or reach out to in a
you can talk to or reach out to in a
you can talk to or reach out to in a moment
moment
moment now everyone who has never had that
now everyone who has never had that
now everyone who has never had that feeling can take their hands down good
feeling can take their hands down good
feeling can take their hands down good so all of us okay so all of us have
so all of us okay so all of us have
so all of us okay so all of us have experienced loneliness but 16% of the
experienced loneliness but 16% of the
experienced loneliness but 16% of the Norwegian population reports that
Norwegian population reports that
Norwegian population reports that they’re being haunted by loneliness
they’re being haunted by loneliness
they’re being haunted by loneliness every day and that’s in Norway according
every day and that’s in Norway according
every day and that’s in Norway according to the United Nation were the happiest
to the United Nation were the happiest
to the United Nation were the happiest country in the world and still 16% is
country in the world and still 16% is
country in the world and still 16% is 800,000 people in this tiny country
800,000 people in this tiny country
800,000 people in this tiny country alone that feels like they have no one
alone that feels like they have no one
alone that feels like they have no one to talk to on a day-to-day basis and
to talk to on a day-to-day basis and
to talk to on a day-to-day basis and when you consider how big of a taboo
when you consider how big of a taboo
when you consider how big of a taboo loneliness actually is it gets worse
loneliness actually is it gets worse
loneliness actually is it gets worse because people do not willingly admit to
because people do not willingly admit to
because people do not willingly admit to being lonely
being lonely
being lonely meaning that 16 is probably too low the
meaning that 16 is probably too low the
meaning that 16 is probably too low the relationship between age and loneliness
relationship between age and loneliness
relationship between age and loneliness is shaped like you the youngest and the
is shaped like you the youngest and the
is shaped like you the youngest and the oldest generations are the most lonely
oldest generations are the most lonely
oldest generations are the most lonely generations and while most research is
generations and while most research is
generations and while most research is focused on the seniors the amount of
focused on the seniors the amount of
focused on the seniors the amount of lonely young people is severely
lonely young people is severely
lonely young people is severely underestimated it should be no surprise
underestimated it should be no surprise
underestimated it should be no surprise to anyone here that lonely children
to anyone here that lonely children
to anyone here that lonely children teenagers and young adults perform worse
teenagers and young adults perform worse
teenagers and young adults perform worse at school are more depressed and
at school are more depressed and
at school are more depressed and experience more suicidal thoughts than
experience more suicidal thoughts than
experience more suicidal thoughts than they’re socially connected peers and
they’re socially connected peers and
they’re socially connected peers and then there are children suffering from
then there are children suffering from
then there are children suffering from long-term illness and with long-term
long-term illness and with long-term
long-term illness and with long-term illness I mean Emme and CP and cancer
illness I mean Emme and CP and cancer
illness I mean Emme and CP and cancer and heart failure
and heart failure
and heart failure all of these diagnoses and they’re
all of these diagnoses and they’re
all of these diagnoses and they’re particularly exposed to being socially
particularly exposed to being socially
particularly exposed to being socially isolated and lonely and they lose their
isolated and lonely and they lose their
isolated and lonely and they lose their place in society
place in society
place in society with their diagnose it’s not always easy
with their diagnose it’s not always easy
with their diagnose it’s not always easy to find their way back I didn’t realize
to find their way back I didn’t realize
to find their way back I didn’t realize how important this issue was until I met
how important this issue was until I met
how important this issue was until I met a woman named Alma 14 years before I met
a woman named Alma 14 years before I met
a woman named Alma 14 years before I met her one of her twin daughters was
her one of her twin daughters was
her one of her twin daughters was diagnosed with a form of cancer and
diagnosed with a form of cancer and
diagnosed with a form of cancer and Cornelia lost her life after having
Cornelia lost her life after having
Cornelia lost her life after having spent two years moving in and out of
spent two years moving in and out of
spent two years moving in and out of various hospitals but when Cornelia
various hospitals but when Cornelia
various hospitals but when Cornelia passed away Anna looked back on the
passed away Anna looked back on the
passed away Anna looked back on the previous two years with grievance
previous two years with grievance
previous two years with grievance because the worst thing had not been the
because the worst thing had not been the
because the worst thing had not been the diagnosis or the treatment or the pain
diagnosis or the treatment or the pain
diagnosis or the treatment or the pain but the fact that her teenage daughter
but the fact that her teenage daughter
but the fact that her teenage daughter became isolated from her friends and her
became isolated from her friends and her
became isolated from her friends and her normal life a thirteen year old girl is
normal life a thirteen year old girl is
normal life a thirteen year old girl is a 13 year old girl and no diagnosis in
a 13 year old girl and no diagnosis in
a 13 year old girl and no diagnosis in the world can take away her social needs
the world can take away her social needs
the world can take away her social needs but an illness will definitely get in
but an illness will definitely get in
but an illness will definitely get in the way of her acting upon those needs
the way of her acting upon those needs
the way of her acting upon those needs so let’s move on to something else
so let’s move on to something else
so let’s move on to something else slightly less heavy I guess that all of
slightly less heavy I guess that all of
slightly less heavy I guess that all of you have heard of tinder it’s a dating
you have heard of tinder it’s a dating
you have heard of tinder it’s a dating app yeah I have a theory that tinder has
app yeah I have a theory that tinder has
app yeah I have a theory that tinder has actually done more for public health
actually done more for public health
actually done more for public health than we give them credit for
than we give them credit for
than we give them credit for now we could discuss it forever because
now we could discuss it forever because
now we could discuss it forever because despite tinder doing the very best job
despite tinder doing the very best job
despite tinder doing the very best job they can more people than ever before
they can more people than ever before
they can more people than ever before are single and that is actually a huge
are single and that is actually a huge
are single and that is actually a huge problem because this single strongest
problem because this single strongest
problem because this single strongest predictor for loneliness is not your age
predictor for loneliness is not your age
predictor for loneliness is not your age it is whether or not you’re in a
it is whether or not you’re in a
it is whether or not you’re in a relationship as a single woman I am four
relationship as a single woman I am four
relationship as a single woman I am four times more likely to be haunted by
times more likely to be haunted by
times more likely to be haunted by loneliness than women who are in a
loneliness than women who are in a
loneliness than women who are in a relationship but the silver lining is
relationship but the silver lining is
relationship but the silver lining is that in this matter I’m very lucky to be
that in this matter I’m very lucky to be
that in this matter I’m very lucky to be a girl because that guy he’s 10 times
a girl because that guy he’s 10 times
a girl because that guy he’s 10 times more likely being haunted by loneliness
more likely being haunted by loneliness
more likely being haunted by loneliness than his mates were in relationships and
than his mates were in relationships and
than his mates were in relationships and yes
yes
yes the fact that single people are more
the fact that single people are more
the fact that single people are more miserable than those who are hitched you
miserable than those who are hitched you
miserable than those who are hitched you would think that by 2017 we would have
would think that by 2017 we would have
would think that by 2017 we would have figured out how to properly connect
figured out how to properly connect
figured out how to properly connect people but it looks like we’re getting
people but it looks like we’re getting
people but it looks like we’re getting worse at it loneliness has become a
worse at it loneliness has become a
worse at it loneliness has become a pandemic it does not discriminate on age
pandemic it does not discriminate on age
pandemic it does not discriminate on age or gender or borders it happens all over
or gender or borders it happens all over
or gender or borders it happens all over the world and it happens most frequently
the world and it happens most frequently
the world and it happens most frequently to those of us who are already
to those of us who are already
to those of us who are already vulnerable and as I said in the
vulnerable and as I said in the
vulnerable and as I said in the beginning I don’t think I can stress
beginning I don’t think I can stress
beginning I don’t think I can stress this enough
this enough
this enough the constant flight or fight mode
the constant flight or fight mode
the constant flight or fight mode results in a 29% increased risk of heart
results in a 29% increased risk of heart
results in a 29% increased risk of heart diseases that’s equivalent to smoking 15
diseases that’s equivalent to smoking 15
diseases that’s equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes every day it is more
cigarettes every day it is more
cigarettes every day it is more dangerous than being an alcoholic and on
dangerous than being an alcoholic and on
dangerous than being an alcoholic and on top of these physical risks there’s one
top of these physical risks there’s one
top of these physical risks there’s one more thing feeling lonely doubles your
more thing feeling lonely doubles your
more thing feeling lonely doubles your likelihood of getting dementia obviously
likelihood of getting dementia obviously
likelihood of getting dementia obviously there’s an enormous individual cost in
there’s an enormous individual cost in
there’s an enormous individual cost in that of feeling all alone there’s also
that of feeling all alone there’s also
that of feeling all alone there’s also an enormous public cost people getting
an enormous public cost people getting
an enormous public cost people getting sick is expensive it is extremely
sick is expensive it is extremely
sick is expensive it is extremely expensive and to give you a specific
expensive and to give you a specific
expensive and to give you a specific example of how loneliness is expensive
example of how loneliness is expensive
example of how loneliness is expensive we can stay on dementia because 66
we can stay on dementia because 66
we can stay on dementia because 66 percent of all the money we spend on
percent of all the money we spend on
percent of all the money we spend on mental health care is spent on people
mental health care is spent on people
mental health care is spent on people suffering from dementia and loneliness
suffering from dementia and loneliness
suffering from dementia and loneliness doubles your risk of developing it we’re
doubles your risk of developing it we’re
doubles your risk of developing it we’re gonna add one more number 12 percent 12
gonna add one more number 12 percent 12
gonna add one more number 12 percent 12 percent of the Norwegian population is
percent of the Norwegian population is
percent of the Norwegian population is daily smokers 16 percent of us or maybe
daily smokers 16 percent of us or maybe
daily smokers 16 percent of us or maybe more are haunted by loneliness we know
more are haunted by loneliness we know
more are haunted by loneliness we know that both of them gives you an equally
that both of them gives you an equally
that both of them gives you an equally increased risk of heart disease and
increased risk of heart disease and
increased risk of heart disease and strokes
strokes
strokes so it’s both extremely dangerous and one
so it’s both extremely dangerous and one
so it’s both extremely dangerous and one of them is even exceptionally painful
of them is even exceptionally painful
of them is even exceptionally painful but the governments of the world is
but the governments of the world is
but the governments of the world is clearly focusing on only one of them but
clearly focusing on only one of them but
clearly focusing on only one of them but what can you really do we setup taxes
what can you really do we setup taxes
what can you really do we setup taxes for cigarettes and then we ban smoking
for cigarettes and then we ban smoking
for cigarettes and then we ban smoking inside
inside
inside it is quite obvious that we can’t use
it is quite obvious that we can’t use
it is quite obvious that we can’t use the same methods for curing loneliness
the same methods for curing loneliness
the same methods for curing loneliness so where do we start if we want to have
so where do we start if we want to have
so where do we start if we want to have an impact on a global scale well I
an impact on a global scale well I
an impact on a global scale well I started with studying almost the
started with studying almost the
started with studying almost the opposite of psychology as I chose
opposite of psychology as I chose
opposite of psychology as I chose computer science and the debate around
computer science and the debate around
computer science and the debate around the impact of technology on loneliness
the impact of technology on loneliness
the impact of technology on loneliness is growing some argue that the use of
is growing some argue that the use of
is growing some argue that the use of technology is replacing human contact
technology is replacing human contact
technology is replacing human contact others argue that technology is all we
others argue that technology is all we
others argue that technology is all we need to establish new relations I think
need to establish new relations I think
need to establish new relations I think the debate lacks one key insight because
the debate lacks one key insight because
the debate lacks one key insight because it is not about the technology at all we
it is not about the technology at all we
it is not about the technology at all we could say that it is somewhat about what
could say that it is somewhat about what
could say that it is somewhat about what the technology does and somewhat about
the technology does and somewhat about
the technology does and somewhat about how we as consumers use technology but
how we as consumers use technology but
how we as consumers use technology but most importantly it’s about the people
most importantly it’s about the people
most importantly it’s about the people who develops the technology that we use
who develops the technology that we use
who develops the technology that we use they choose how it works and what it
they choose how it works and what it
they choose how it works and what it does and different things does different
does and different things does different
does and different things does different things and it’s people who developed the
things and it’s people who developed the
things and it’s people who developed the stuff we use developments in
stuff we use developments in
stuff we use developments in communication technology have emerged
communication technology have emerged
communication technology have emerged rapidly but unfortunately technology is
rapidly but unfortunately technology is
rapidly but unfortunately technology is almost always developed to make
almost always developed to make
almost always developed to make efficient people more efficient new
efficient people more efficient new
efficient people more efficient new technologies is too often built for
technologies is too often built for
technologies is too often built for those who are already moving fast rather
those who are already moving fast rather
those who are already moving fast rather than for those who might benefit from it
than for those who might benefit from it
than for those who might benefit from it the most and for vulnerable groups the
the most and for vulnerable groups the
the most and for vulnerable groups the most important developments have failed
most important developments have failed
most important developments have failed to appear and I can give you one of the
to appear and I can give you one of the
to appear and I can give you one of the many perfect examples of how the tech
many perfect examples of how the tech
many perfect examples of how the tech world has left the senior generations
world has left the senior generations
world has left the senior generations behind technology-based innovations such
behind technology-based innovations such
behind technology-based innovations such as video conferencing it’s been around
as video conferencing it’s been around
as video conferencing it’s been around for years we’ve also known for years the
for years we’ve also known for years the
for years we’ve also known for years the video conferencing it’s a very positive
video conferencing it’s a very positive
video conferencing it’s a very positive impact on social isolation and
impact on social isolation and
impact on social isolation and loneliness but yet 70%
loneliness but yet 70%
loneliness but yet 70% seven zero more than two-thirds of those
seven zero more than two-thirds of those
seven zero more than two-thirds of those over eighty have never even tried it we
over eighty have never even tried it we
over eighty have never even tried it we know that this technology can help but
know that this technology can help but
know that this technology can help but still we haven’t made it available for
still we haven’t made it available for
still we haven’t made it available for those who could benefit from it most I
those who could benefit from it most I
those who could benefit from it most I imagine that many of you in the audience
imagine that many of you in the audience
imagine that many of you in the audience have parents or even grandparents that
have parents or even grandparents that
have parents or even grandparents that fits into the description seniors that
fits into the description seniors that
fits into the description seniors that cannot use existing technology and then
cannot use existing technology and then
cannot use existing technology and then some of you might want to jump up and
some of you might want to jump up and
some of you might want to jump up and say my mom or dad that my mom can use an
say my mom or dad that my mom can use an
say my mom or dad that my mom can use an iPad and two statements like that it’s
iPad and two statements like that it’s
iPad and two statements like that it’s always some questions that pops into my
always some questions that pops into my
always some questions that pops into my mind could she go and buy that iPad and
mind could she go and buy that iPad and
mind could she go and buy that iPad and download the programs that she needs and
download the programs that she needs and
download the programs that she needs and start using it without help and why is
start using it without help and why is
start using it without help and why is it that that scenario was so obscene
it that that scenario was so obscene
it that that scenario was so obscene shouldn’t she be able to do that my
shouldn’t she be able to do that my
shouldn’t she be able to do that my contribution to put an end to loneliness
contribution to put an end to loneliness
contribution to put an end to loneliness is developing solutions that would work
is developing solutions that would work
is developing solutions that would work like that developing technology for
like that developing technology for
like that developing technology for smaller groups that takes into
smaller groups that takes into
smaller groups that takes into consideration their actual needs and
consideration their actual needs and
consideration their actual needs and capabilities technology that can foster
capabilities technology that can foster
capabilities technology that can foster face-to-face contacts my second
face-to-face contacts my second
face-to-face contacts my second contribution is talking about it because
contribution is talking about it because
contribution is talking about it because loneliness we can tackle loneliness by
loneliness we can tackle loneliness by
loneliness we can tackle loneliness by simply opening up a conversation making
simply opening up a conversation making
simply opening up a conversation making sure that everyone is aware I did not
sure that everyone is aware I did not
sure that everyone is aware I did not understand how lonely I was
understand how lonely I was
understand how lonely I was and of course ironically the last thing
and of course ironically the last thing
and of course ironically the last thing you want is to have people around you
you want is to have people around you
you want is to have people around you you do not want to let anyone in and I’m
you do not want to let anyone in and I’m
you do not want to let anyone in and I’m so far from being the only one who’s
so far from being the only one who’s
so far from being the only one who’s felt like this depression is a massive
felt like this depression is a massive
felt like this depression is a massive issue but I’m 100% sure that loneliness
issue but I’m 100% sure that loneliness
issue but I’m 100% sure that loneliness is often at the root and always a
is often at the root and always a
is often at the root and always a contributor to depression because we as
contributor to depression because we as
contributor to depression because we as humans are fundamentally built to be a
humans are fundamentally built to be a
humans are fundamentally built to be a part of a group were fundamentally built
part of a group were fundamentally built
part of a group were fundamentally built to depend on others and to have others
to depend on others and to have others
to depend on others and to have others depending on us
depending on us
depending on us it’s nothing cool her brave were great
it’s nothing cool her brave were great
it’s nothing cool her brave were great about
about
about going through life alone so please call
going through life alone so please call
going through life alone so please call the friend that I know that you all have
the friend that I know that you all have
the friend that I know that you all have and just be bored together and then let
and just be bored together and then let
and just be bored together and then let people in because when you lean on
people in because when you lean on
people in because when you lean on others you’re helping them and you’re
others you’re helping them and you’re
others you’re helping them and you’re helping yourself and you’re not actually
helping yourself and you’re not actually
helping yourself and you’re not actually helping our taxes so that was it thank
helping our taxes so that was it thank
helping our taxes so that was it thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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