The Hard Shoulder How should lonely young people be supported?
Nov 25, 2025
Enda Murphy is a clinical psychotherapist and director of SeeMee.ie, specializing in loneliness and addiction, while Leo Gibson is a content creator sharing personal experiences of youth loneliness. They dive into why online connections fall short, particularly for young men, and share effective offline social strategies like a phone-free golf routine that fosters genuine interaction. Additionally, they discuss the detrimental effects of digital addiction on real-world relationships and emphasize the need for accessible spaces to combat increasing loneliness among Ireland's youth.
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Connection Isn't The Same As Presence
- Young people report high loneliness despite being hyperconnected online because digital connection often lacks real-life depth.
- Enda Murphy frames online interaction as 'cheap dopamine' that can't replace face-to-face bonds.
Golf As A Phone-Free Social Ritual
- Leo Gibson and his friends took up golf to force weekly, phone-free social time and it improved their wellbeing.
- They leave phones in their bags and keep the course a largely unspoken no-phone zone.
Enforce Phone-Free Meetups
- Adopt phone-free rules during social meetups to encourage present conversation and reduce checking habits.
- Make the rule routine so it becomes normal and less noticeable over time.