Since getting it from other humans is impossible because after all, you are not perfect and to be loved you must be perfect at all times, you get an animal that will love your horrible imperfect self.
Who told you that you must be perfect at all times in order to be loved? Why social media of course.
They have been subjected to a constant barrage of criticism from people they do not even know for most of their adolescence.
Of course they are lonely, detached and neurotic.
And even if they know that it is possible to change it is going to be a major job doing it.
To your point, maybe we need to bring back IALAC.
I Am Lovable And Capable.
Might help some of these kids who think they are neither. Although somehow that got twisted into participation trophies, which didn’t help anyone.
Worry not—Just wait for the Big War! (Yes, its coming folks). Wait for the draft, this time Men and Women—Only Women with small children will get a deferment—Just watch the population go up. There will be a baby boom the like of witch will amaze everyone. After smelling the horror of battle, facing hostile Chinese Robots and Russian Drones the survivors will want a wife, family, house in suburbs and a good job. At the end of the war—there will me much rebuilding to do—and due to losses in population—lots of jobs. We just better not lose this one.