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Digital loneliness—changes of social recognition through AI companions

Jacobs, Kerrin Artemis·2024·Frontiers in Digital Health
DOI 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1281037PMC PMC10949182
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Abstract

Inherent to the experience of loneliness is a significant change of meaningful relatedness that (usually negatively) affects a person's relationship to self and others. This paper goes beyond a purely subjective-phenomenological description of individual suffering by emphasizing loneliness as a symptomatic expression of distortions of social recognition relations. Where there is loneliness, a recognition relation has changed. Most societies face an increase in loneliness among all groups of their population, and this sheds light on the reproduction conditions of social integration and inclusion. These functions are essential lifeworldly components of social cohesion and wellbeing. This study asks whether “social” AI promotes these societal success goals of social integration of lonely people. The increasing tendency to regard AI Companions (AICs) as reproducers of adequate recognition is critically discussed with this review. My skepticism requires further justification, especially as a large portion of sociopolitical prevention efforts aim to fight an increase of loneliness primarily with digital strategies. I will argue that AIC s rather reproduce than sustainably reduce the pathodynamics of loneliness: loneliness gets simply “digitized.”

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  • Research shows that AI companions may be especially attractive to lonely users, and there are concerns that digital companionship may reproduce or intensify loneliness when it replaces rather than complements human connection.

    “This logic is consistent with research showing that AI companions may be especially attractive to lonely users, but also with concerns that digital companionship may reproduce or intensify loneliness when it replaces rather than complements human connection (Jacobs, 2024; Liu et al., 2025).”

    From When loneliness amplifies the risk of problematic emotional dependence: perceived anthropomorphism and basic psychological need satisfaction in AI companion use (2026) · cites this paper as Jacobs, 2024

    In “(Digital) loneliness—connected, yet alone!” (page unavailable), Jacobs raises the concern that AI companions may sustain loneliness rather than resolve it. The “AI companion: the subject you call is (still) not available!” subsection also warns that companionship not used to connect with other people can reproduce the condition of being connected but alone. The paper describes AI companions as attractive to humans, but the passages do not establish that they are especially attractive to lonely users. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Some individuals may develop maladaptive reliance on online interaction.

    “While online interaction, including with AI companions, may provide short-term emotional relief (Cauberghe et al. 2020;De Freitas et al. 2025;Latikka et al. 2022;Potdevin et al. 2021;Sullivan et al. 2023), highly lonely individuals often derive limited benefit (Jin 2013;Phu & Gow 2019), and some may develop maladaptive reliance (Al-Obaydi & Pikhart 2025;Jacobs 2024;Turel & Serenko 2012).”

    From Not a Silver Bullet for Loneliness: How Attachment and Age Shape Intimacy with AI Companions (2026) · cites this paper as Jacobs 2024

  • Affective technologies produce relational outcomes shaped by user dispositions, design choices, monetisation logics, and institutional arrangements.

    “Although our data do not directly address governance or business models, research shows that affective technologies produce relational outcomes shaped not only by user dispositions but also by design choices, monetisation logics, and institutional arrangements (Bozdag 2025;Jacobs 2024).”

    From Not a Silver Bullet for Loneliness: How Attachment and Age Shape Intimacy with AI Companions (2026) · cites this paper as Jacobs 2024

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Metadata

Authors
Jacobs, K. A.
Venue
Frontiers in Digital Health
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2024-03-05
Volume
6
ISSN
2673-253X
DOI
10.3389/fdgth.2024.1281037
PMC
PMC10949182
Cited by
48
References
10
Licence
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)

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