Bigo Live Survey Reveals Livestreaming Reduces Loneliness

Loneliness continues to shape Americans' emotional well-being and shows no signs of fading from our cultural conversation. Bigo Live found that in the last month, most respondents reported feeling lonely sometimes or almost always — a striking 77% of those surveyed.

This feeling tends to vary based on where people live. Across the country, small town residents report the highest chronic loneliness rates, followed closely by rural and suburban communities. Interestingly, city dwellers are the least chronically lonely — suggesting that physical isolation or limited in-person social circles can greatly intensify the experience.

Year over year, these environmental factors are driving more people to seek authentic connection online — and the data shows they're finding it.

While social media is often criticized for deepening the gap between people, the data suggests the issue is less about social platforms themselves and more about how people engage with them. Livestreaming is emerging as a powerful answer to the loneliness epidemic, offering a level of interaction that passive formats simply fail to deliver.

For many, this behavior is driven by a genuine emotional need. Interactive formats appear to matter most — group chats and streams outperform passive content consumption (11%) and post engagement (5%) by a wide margin.

Women are more likely to turn to livestreaming to address loneliness (43% vs. 30% of men) and are slightly more likely to find it meaningful overall (57% vs. 51%).

Both suburban (58%) and urban (55%) users say livestreams feel more authentic and connecting than traditional social content — signaling a broader shift toward participatory, real-time experiences across communities.

Despite ongoing skepticism around the authenticity of online relationships, the data shows that social media is playing a meaningful role in building real connection and belonging. Shared vulnerability is a key driver — 59% of respondents say they feel less alone when consuming content where others express similar struggles, highlighting the emotional power of relatable, human experiences.

Geography also plays a role in how these relationships form. Suburban and rural users report the highest rates of international connections (85% vs. 82%), suggesting that those with fewer in-person social opportunities are turning to online spaces to build broader, more inclusive communities.

Beyond passive consumption, these interactions are translating into tangible relationships. Most respondents report forming connections across borders, with cross-cultural engagement making them feel more tied to the world around them.

The findings make it clear that not all online experiences are created equal. While passive browsing may fall short, interactive formats like livestreaming help people build confidence, form meaningful relationships, and experience a true sense of belonging.

As loneliness continues to rise, the focus should shift toward the platforms and experiences that are actively bringing people closer together — in real time, across all distances.