‭ Reintegrating Socializing in a‬ ‭ Post-Pandemic World‬ ‭

Abstract

‭In our research project, we aim to tackle the pervasive issue of loneliness, a problem that affects‬
‭a significant portion of the American population. Loneliness has garnered attention as a‬
‭pressing societal concern, with the U.S. Surgeon General even referring to it as an epidemic. Its‬
‭relevance and importance are underscored by its association with severe health risks, including‬
‭suicide, cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore,‬
‭loneliness places a substantial economic burden on the United States, costing an estimated‬
‭$406 billion annually, along with an additional $6.7 billion in Medicare expenses for socially‬
‭isolated older adults.‬
‭Addressing loneliness proves to be challenging for both society as a whole and within the field‬
‭of data science. On a societal level, this challenge arises from the complexity of loneliness,‬
‭which is a highly subjective and variable experience. Stigma surrounding loneliness often‬
‭discourages individuals from seeking help or acknowledging their own isolation. Moreover,‬
‭social and economic factors, the impact of technology, and cultural shifts further complicate‬
‭efforts to combat loneliness. Access to resources and the development of effective policies also‬
‭pose significant hurdles.‬
‭Within the discipline of data science, addressing loneliness presents unique complexities.‬
‭Quantifying loneliness, a subjective and multifaceted emotion, is a central challenge. Data‬
‭privacy and ethical concerns arise when collecting and analyzing sensitive personal data related‬
‭to social interactions and emotional states. The interdisciplinary nature of addressing loneliness‬
‭requires collaboration between data scientists and experts in psychology, sociology, and health‬
‭sciences. Algorithmic bias and fairness must be carefully considered to avoid exacerbating‬
‭existing biases. Integrating digital solutions with real-world interventions and ensuring user‬
‭engagement and adoption are additional obstacles. Furthermore, measuring the effectiveness‬
‭and long-term impact of technological interventions is a complex endeavor, as is balancing the‬
‭use of technology with the preservation of essential human interactions.‬
‭Our solution introduces a unique collaborative model known as the 'trifecta’ which forms the‬
‭core of our approach to combating social isolation. This trifecta represents a synergistic‬
‭partnership between three key stakeholders: individual users, local businesses, and corporate‬
‭sponsors. Each stakeholder group plays a vital role in our ecosystem, creating a mutually‬
‭beneficial relationship. Individual users gain access to a variety of local events that cater to their‬
‭interests, fostering community engagement and social connections. Local businesses, serving‬
‭as event venues, benefit from increased foot traffic and visibility within the community.‬
‭Meanwhile, corporate sponsors finance these events, leveraging the opportunity for direct,‬
‭authentic marketing and consumer engagement. This trifecta model not only addresses the‬
‭pressing issue of social isolation but also revitalizes local economies and introduces a novel‬
‭approach to corporate marketing.‬
‭In this research paper, we delve into the multifaceted issue of loneliness, exploring its effects‬
‭and potential solutions. We begin by examining the profound effects of loneliness on individuals,‬
‭including its associations with mental and physical health challenges. Our focus then shifts to‬
‭the role of gathering and social connections in reducing loneliness. We research existing‬
‭methods of gathering and identify their pitfalls, leading us to our unique solution. We introduce‬
‭our solution, highlighting the potential interest of companies in leveraging events for marketing‬
‭and research existing marketing solutions. To ensure companies reach their target audience‬
‭effectively, we delve into the development of a recommendation algorithm. Finally, we‬
‭investigate the advantages of implementing this solution as a mobile app. This comprehensive‬
‭exploration aims to shed light on the critical issue of loneliness and proposes an innovative‬
‭approach that integrates technology, community, and marketing strategies to combat it‬
‭effectively.‬
‭The key findings of our research unveil the significant impact of gathering in reducing loneliness,‬
‭contrasting starkly with the exacerbating role that social media plays in this issue. As we delved‬
‭deeper into the dynamics of gathering, we recognized a challenging trend: the reduction of third‬
‭spaces has made it increasingly difficult for people to socialize, ultimately intensifying feelings of‬
‭loneliness. These barriers to social interaction have prompted us to investigate existing‬
‭solutions, such as Meetup.com, only to discover their limitations, particularly in the lack of free‬
‭tailored events.‬
‭Our quest then led us to the question: How can we make events more accessible and free for‬
‭everyone? To address this challenge, we proposed leveraging the interest of companies, who‬
‭stand to gain by accessing their desired audience for marketing products and services while‬
‭bypassing the saturated online marketing landscape.‬
‭However, a critical hurdle remained: ensuring that companies could effectively attract their target‬
‭audience to these events. To overcome this challenge, we developed a sophisticated algorithm‬
‭capable of matching users to events, thus maximizing the chances of successful engagement.‬
‭To put our research into practice, we curated a comprehensive dataset containing event and‬
‭user information, including event names, types, timings, accessibility, cost, and geographical‬
‭coordinates. Leveraging this dataset, we created a neural network model designed to predict‬
‭the probability of a user attending an event based on their unique interests.‬
‭Recognizing the need for a user-friendly platform that could seamlessly connect users and‬
‭events, we concluded that implementing our solution as a mobile app would be the most‬
‭effective approach, catering to our target audience and providing a holistic solution to address‬
‭the pervasive issue of loneliness.‬