In Japan, producer Shauna Tan met several young adults whose childhoods were interrupted by circumstances, from child abuse to family illness to school absenteeism, and all found themselves in a state of being alone.
“In particular, Aya’s unwavering account of her difficult childhood and exploitation in Kabukicho’s notorious host clubs sent chills down my spine,” Shauna recalls. “More than once, I thought, ‘Are you sure you’re okay with the whole world knowing this about you?’.”
In the Philippines, producer Pichayada Promchertchoo met a young man named Christian and his friend, Andrei.
The pair talked about a vacation in New York, a “magical” walk around Central Park in a snowstorm, a hike to the Philippines’ highest peak, and exploring Tokyo. “He’s very adventurous,” Christian said of his friend.
The catch? Andrei isn’t a real person. He’s a generative AI chatbot app, created by Christian who was lonely and longing for social connection during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Observing their interactions made Pichayada realise how easy it is to get absorbed in virtual reality and forget about the difficulties in life. Yet, there is something uncanny about having a relationship with a digital character.
To understand why youths are getting lonelier, catch these episodes of Insight.
Daniel Heng
Executive Producer, Insight
