Orrbbit
Benefits of Human Connection

Technology should help people connect in the real world — not keep them behind a screen.

Human connection is one of the most consistent themes in public-health research. Below are findings from recognised health institutions, with sources. These describe associations reported in research — not medical advice or treatment claims.

Mental wellbeing

Regular, meaningful contact with others is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety in large public-health reviews.

Community & belonging

Feeling part of a local community is linked with a stronger sense of belonging and social support.

Physical health

Public-health bodies report that social connection is associated with healthier outcomes, while isolation is linked with higher health risks.

Confidence & participation

Face-to-face interaction and community participation are associated with greater social confidence over time.

What the research shows

Each figure below reflects an association reported by the cited source in the year shown. Associations are not the same as causation.

Higher likelihood of survival with strong social relationships+50%

Holt-Lunstad et al., meta-analysis of 148 studies, PLoS Medicine, 2010.

Increased risk of heart disease linked with poor social connection+29%

U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023.

Increased risk of stroke linked with poor social connection+32%

U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory, 2023.

People worldwide affected by loneliness≈1 in 6

WHO Commission on Social Connection, From Loneliness to Social Connection, 2025.

The WHO Commission on Social Connection (2025) reported that loneliness is associated with an estimated 871,000 deaths each year, and described social connection as an under-recognised factor in physical and mental health.

The U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory reported that the mortality risk associated with social disconnection is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, drawing on research led by Prof. Julianne Holt-Lunstad.

Sources: World Health Organization (who.int, 2025); U.S. Department of Health & Human Services / Office of the Surgeon General (hhs.gov, 2023); Holt-Lunstad, Smith & Layton, PLoS Medicine (2010).

How Orrbbit helps

Orrbbit doesn't replace human connection — it helps create opportunities for real-world interaction nearby.