Group chats to combat loneliness

“Thanks to the support from the Vissing Foundation, we are able to launch two digital group chat sessions for children and young people who experience loneliness. The digital group chat sessions will take place at Cyberhus.dk, which is a digital clubhouse where young people can be a part of safe, digital communities and receive qualified support from volunteer professional adults,” explains Karoline Sønder, a professional consultant at Cyberhus.

The project aims to break the taboos and stigma surrounding loneliness so that more children and young people dare to speak up about it. The project will also spread awareness of the importance of involving others, for example in class or in leisure activities.

“We also want to create easy and safe access to local and nationwide services for lonely young people. The project aims to give young people the understanding that there are others who feel the same way they do,” explains Karoline Sønder.

Group chat sessions allow young people to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences in an anonymous and safe space via a digital group chat medium.

Anonymity also provides a high degree of control for the individual young person. They decide for themselves what and how much they share.

The anonymity in the group chat can also help vulnerable young people open up and talk about loneliness, something that is often associated with shame and reluctance.