Are they lonely or are they just bored? We find a lot of times people just can't handle being bored anymore. They are so used to going all the time or having a screen in front of them. Just being still throws them into a mental state of unease or despair.
There is the bored factor too, but I think that they are also lonely on top. There was a study a few months back of Finnish students and they also identified as bored and there was the recommendation to make learning more fun. Learning doesn't have to be fun to be learned - it needs to be compelling to learn.
Yeah, I feel like they are aiming at the wrong target there.