Silvan Hornstein is one of the five winners of our “Art Meets Science” ideas competition. He won in the category of social cohesion—one of the great challenges of our time.
Silvan Hornstein is developing a digital application at Humboldt-Universit zu Berlin to combat loneliness among young people.
Loneliness is considered a growing social problem that has a profound impact on mental and physical health. Studies show that people who feel lonely on a long-term basis have an increased risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and cardiovascular disease—and a shorter life expectancy. Young people today also feel lonely more often—despite crowded lecture halls, shared kitchens, and the hustle and bustle of big cities. In Berlin, where individuality is celebrated and social closeness is often fleeting, this form of loneliness affects many people. Nevertheless, loneliness is often misunderstood or downplayed, especially when it comes to younger people.
Silvan Hornstein, psychologist and doctoral candidate at Humboldt Universitn Berlin, wants to change that. Together with his team, he is developing platoniq.health, an app that not only connects people, but also specifically strengthens social skills and changes obstructive thought patterns. It is based on findings from psychological research: interventions that focus on the how of relationships—not just the whether—are particularly effective against loneliness.
Silvan won an award in the “Social Cohesion” category of our ideas competition for his research project. In this interview, he explains why Berlin is considered the loneliness capital, what role digital tools can play in healthcare, and what inspired him to undertake his project.
Silvan's goal: to destigmatize loneliness, create preventive services, and strengthen social cohesion where it is urgently needed.