What is the role of technology in the high rate of isolation?

I think it depends on the person. The socially awkward have a place to go now. Not that they learn how to function socially in public but at least they do connect with people. Some may be upset seeing teens all staring at their phones all day but a lot of adults do the same when they have a chance. When I was a teen, we spent hours talking on the phone with friends rather than go their house and see them in person. Today, just showing up isn’t ok for a lot of adults – generally, it’s not even ok to invite yourself even if you phone first. This is not the case everywhere. But being online is not the same as real interaction anyway and when people want to see other people, they go out in the world and find them. It’s much easier to find people you want to hang out with with the internet too. Although, that is also allowing people to only spend time with people with the same viewpoint and while the world is getting more open.