There are two parts to this Culture and education. No doubt I'll anger some people, but here we go.
Colleges played an integral part in the incredible lack of connection he decries.
Because right now, they are pretty darn toxic.
He speaks of a "Loneliness epidemic". It certainly is true, there is one. But that atmosphere that has been created doesn't help a bit. As the female to male ratio has been increasing, there are less men available, and the ease with which a man can be destroyed plays some part in young college age males avoiding relationships.
I get Cleary reports as required by law. I get maybe one a year now. That colleges have been an unqualified success in reducing sexcrime, real or interpreted is beyond argument. They have also caused many young men to avoid young women completely as a protective mechanism.
And many of these young ladies understandably hate the results.
Whereas once upon a time, you would see many men and women in obvious relationships or just friends around the campus, today maybe 10 percent of the people I see are interacting with the opposite sex. Guys hanging out together, gals the same. So many more woman than men, and the males don't seem to be affected much by the situation. No question that this is not a good situation.
Can this change? It will require a huge culture shift. I do note that a lot of women are changing their approach. In the past year, I've seen a lot of women have lost the "College scowl" that was so popular since around 2005. More women actually smile and speak to me without prompting, and without the "whatever" attitude. I believe that the loneliness epidemic affects women more than men.
Point is, the College culture has to change - a lot. And those who created the present culture are going to resist, mightily.
Now Education
Sure - education for many of these kids was a colossal waste of money. Loans that they lived on before getting a worthless degree, graduating in big debt and finding out they have less employment opportunities than the guy who quit high school in 10th grade. They might have had fun living their best life and having that sweet College Experience, but really - didn't they check on the post graduation employment prospects?
Meanwhile those in majors that had good employment prospects have been able to secure jobs that pay well, and have paid down their loans.
We really do need a lot of revamping of academia. But it's going to take a miracle to change the present culture, which is the polar opposite of Genuine human community, but rather a deconstruction of human community. I suspect it will have to completely fall apart, then rebuilt with a more even handed paradigm.