Yes, I have experienced feeling lonely even when in the middle of a crowd, and it can be quite exhausting. To cope with the emptiness, I usually allow myself some time to be alone and reflect, and then try to interact with more people again. However, I also prioritize my own well-being by taking time to recharge my energy instead of forcing myself to socialize in an uncomfortable situation like that

yeeee, i just open my handphone and scroll through social media that i have, nothing special but it helps me a lot!

yeah, i ever was. looking for a companion i guess? if it were an actual irl crowd, i'd try to reach out to friends, texting them. and i'd deal with a virtual crowd by leaving them for an ideal period to calm myself.