Loneliness in the “society of universal communication”: paradox of digital modernity

The article concerns philosophical comprehension of the problem of loneliness as a paradoxical phenomenon of the modern “society of universal communication”. It is argued that humanity’s entry into the information age is accompanied by a high level of technological development, resulting in a modern digital transformation. Reality, methods of communication and the man himself are shown to be transformed as a result. Global information space formation, in the non-material environment of which modern communication process unfolds, determines the emergence of virtual, digital communication, which in modern conditions displaces the traditional ways of interpersonal interaction and generates the problem of loneliness. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that modern man, despite the abundance of connections and full immersion in the sociocommunicative space, is becoming increasingly lonely, acutely experiencing the lack of real live communication.