{
  "id": 13897127,
  "title": "Loneliness goes viral as social media users embrace life alone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/loneliness-goes-viral-as-social-media-users-embrace-life-alone-13897127",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-12T07:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/trends/20261012/loneliness-goes-viral-as-social-media-users-embrace-life-alone"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "If you find yourself feeling empty when you lack plans, you may need to develop the ability to cope with solitude, according to experts. For years, social media has been a platform for showcasing picture-perfect lives filled with luxury hotels, fine dining, designer goods, exotic vacations, and bustling social circles. However, a new trend is emerging: millions of users are now embracing the idea of staying home alone on a Friday night and sharing their solo activities on platforms like Instagram.\n\nKim Yu-rye, a 38-year-old office worker in Seoul, is a prime example of this shift. She documents her solitary routines on her Instagram account, kimuyeah, which features everyday activities she enjoys by herself, such as watching animation after work, reading, and practicing yoga. Kim shares tips with her followers on how to spend time comfortably alone. At first, she was hesitant to publicly share her life as someone without a spouse, romantic partner, or children. However, she gradually stopped treating this reality as something to hide behind carefully curated social media posts.\n\nKim used to believe that she should only post special and beautiful moments, but she now understands that embracing solitude is a valid way of life. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to help others develop the skills to cope with loneliness and find fulfillment in their own company.",
  "summary": "\"If you feel empty whenever you don't have plans, I want to tell you that you need time to develop the ability to deal with loneliness instead.\" For years, social media has been a showcase for picture-perfect lives — luxury hotels, fine dining, designer goods, exotic vacations and bustling social circles. Now, a very different kind of lifestyle is drawing millions of views: staying home alone on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Loneliness goes viral as social media users embrace life alone",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/loneliness-goes-viral-as-social-media-users-embrace-life-alone",
        "published": "2026-10-12T06:42:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}