I agree, I think there's more to the story.

As for the example, I agree that there are impoverished places where people get along fine in their socio-economic status, meaning wealth is not a necessary factor.

I think the key difference with what's going on now in the western world is that young males are disproportionately being pushed to the bottom of the socio economic ladder with the cultural expectation that they have the same resource capacity as their older counter parts.

Another commenter noted the loss of third spaces and I'd add communities in general. People used to date within their communities more, I assume.

So I think it's more to the story like you said. Probably some perfect storm, of which, the general loneliness in the world is but one expression of.