Virtual contact worse than no contact for over-60s in lockdown, says study

I'm disappointed that the study focused on over-60's. I've felt extremely lonely since the pandemic started that I've only recently been able to counteract with in-person meeting with friends. Online contact doesn't make up for a lack of real-world social contacts in my experience. I was in a severe depression for much of the pandemic and I'm 30.

I wonder whether this study was not careful enough to distinguish those who grew up with technology vs. wrestled with exposure late in life. Looking at people in their 60's, you have early adopters from their youth as well as those who were set in their careers before being exposed (probably via the IBM PC and its clones if at all). After net chats and other ancient technology, IRC and then video chats, my only stress with the technology was 'net overloads and dodgy software. I would think that's similar for others who started as kids. The only problem with phones was the cost of long-distance and things like MCI solved that one.

It is not surprising, I prefer virtual meetings with clients because I have to deal with them less.