The Role of Social Networking Sites in Increasing Loneliness

The Role of Social Networking Sites in Increasing Loneliness

Human development has been fundamentally shaped by social connections throughout history. These connections have facilitated the transmission of information, the formation of families, the birth of children, and the establishment of societies. Social interactions are the foundation upon which human life has been sustained since its inception. Such connections involve individuals engaging with one another, a process that can be traced back to the origins of humanity and continues to this day. However, the manner in which these interactions occur has changed drastically. Personal encounters have increasingly been replaced by digital devices. Today, social engagement no longer necessitates physical presence or sensory engagement such as speaking, seeing, hearing, or feeling. Instead, it often only requires an internet connection and a social media account.

Modern socialization has made it possible to meet and interact with others without leaving the comfort of one's home. This ease of access raises important questions: Is this shift an improvement? What are the emotional consequences for individuals? Has the advent of social networking websites contributed to a growing sense of loneliness? This essay aims to examine these questions through the lens of established theories and research, investigating whether social media use has exacerbated feelings of loneliness.

The internet has evolved significantly since the 1990s when it first became widely accessible. This includes advancements in the design of websites, the creation of tools and gadgets, and the development of features that encourage engagement with social media platforms. This essay will analyze research findings from both before and after 2019 to evaluate the impact of these changes on loneliness.

Human beings have always had an inherent need to socialize, as evidenced throughout history. This need has been observed from the time of the Neanderthals through to modern humans (Sari et al., 2023; Topinard, 1898). Social media platforms allow individuals to communicate with large groups of people multiple times per day. Before the advent of the telephone and social networking sites, communication occurred through letters sent by post—a process that could take weeks. Today, sending a message via platforms like WhatsApp takes mere seconds.

Vanhalst et al. (2012) proposed a bidirectional relationship between loneliness and social media use. Their theory suggests that while social media use can lead to loneliness by replacing real-life interactions with online ones, it can also serve as a means of maintaining relationships without entirely replacing offline socialization. This phenomenon is known as the "displacement hypothesis."

Gross (2004) conducted research 20 years ago, during a time when the internet and social media were far less interactive. He argued that age plays a significant role in the relationship between loneliness and social media use. His findings indicated that children and adolescents are less likely to replace offline activities with online ones due to restrictions on their social media use. However, as social media usage among children has become more common—now beginning at ages as young as 10 to 13 (Washington Post, 2023)—Gross's conclusions might yield different results if the research were conducted today. His study did reveal that older teens and adults are more susceptible to feelings of loneliness due to their increased use of social media, particularly as their access to technology grows and their offline responsibilities, such as work and family, increase.

On the other hand, social media can also help individuals, particularly adults, to maintain connections with family and friends, potentially reducing feelings of loneliness. Erickson and Johnson (2011) found that features like status updates allow people to stay informed about each other's lives, thus fostering emotional connections and reducing loneliness. Similarly, Kusumota et al. (2021) observed that elderly individuals, who may have physical limitations, benefit from using the internet to stay connected with loved ones. This finding is consistent across studies conducted both before and after 2019, which report lower levels of loneliness among older adults who use social media. However, the opposite is true for younger adults, where increased online time is often correlated with higher levels of loneliness. Sum, Mathews, Hughes, and Campbell (2008) explained that this is due to the increased opportunities younger people have for face-to-face social interactions, which can be hindered by excessive internet use.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, further complicated the relationship between social media use and loneliness. Social isolation measures forced many individuals to rely on digital communication to maintain their relationships. A study conducted in Australia focused on participants aged 15 to 24 and explored how motivations for social media use influenced loneliness. Similar to Matook et al.'s (2015) findings, the study concluded that individuals who use social media to enhance existing relationships are less likely to experience loneliness, while those who use it to compensate for a lack of social skills or real-life social opportunities are more prone to loneliness (Vanhalst, 2012; Smith, Leonis, & Anandavalli, 2021).

Motivation is a key factor in determining the relationship between social media use and loneliness. Bonsaksen et al. (2023) and Matook (2015) both highlighted that the reasons behind social media engagement can lead to different outcomes. For instance, using Facebook to make new friends tends to reduce loneliness over time, while using social media to compensate for poor social skills may exacerbate feelings of loneliness (Teppers et al., 2012; Nowland et al., 2017).

The findings discussed in this essay suggest that the relationship between social media use and loneliness is complex and dependent on various factors, including motivation and age. While older adults generally benefit from social media due to its ability to help them maintain connections despite physical limitations, younger individuals are more susceptible to loneliness as they may engage with social media in ways that hinder real-life interactions. The tendency for younger people to compare their lives with others' carefully curated social media profiles may also contribute to feelings of isolation and inadequacy.

In conclusion, the impact of social media use on loneliness varies depending on the user's motivation and stage of life. For older adults, social media serves as a valuable tool for maintaining relationships and reducing loneliness. In contrast, younger individuals may experience heightened loneliness when social media is used as a substitute for face-to-face interactions, especially when expectations of social engagement are unmet or when they engage in comparisons with others' seemingly more fulfilling lives.