Regarding, loneliness, did you consider going to the library. Sometimes there are book reading clubs and you may meet like-minded people. Meetup app also helps connecting with people with similar outdoor activities such as hiking.
Hah! It's funny that you mention that. Like OP, I've also kicked social media and heavy internet use to the curb. I also happen to love multi-day backpacking trips, but one of the things I love the most about them is the complete solitude I can have for days on end! Something about being completely disconnected like that is soul-soothing for me.
- Load up CalTopo (a phenomenal mapping website)
- Head to a wilderness area I know I want to visit
- Find trails that look like fun destinations, see if I can connect those trails to other trails (I prefer hiking in loops, rather than out-and-backs)
- Head to hiking forums to scour trip reports for information about the trails/route I'm looking at to make sure my idea works
I live in the PNW, so I'm frequently on the NWHikers and OregonHikers forums, both equally amazing resources for on and off-trail research. Definitely see if you can find a forum-based community for your region, they've been a consistently positive experience for me compared to, say, a FB hiking group for the region.