Spending extensive time on social media seems to significantly contribute to feelings of loneliness. However, a recent study indicates that using social networking sites purposefully to connect with others and foster feelings of companionship may also help reduce loneliness.
In the United States, loneliness is increasing, with about one in three Americans reporting experiences of “serious loneliness” in recent years. Individuals who feel lonely are twice as likely to experience depression, and loneliness is a major risk factor for self-harm and suicide — potentially contributing to the record high of over 50,000 suicides in the U.S. in 2023.
Many believe that the rise in loneliness is linked to a decline in personal social interactions and community involvement, as we increasingly spend our time online instead of meeting face-to-face. Young Americans aged 18-29 now dedicate more than five hours daily to social networking, and excessive social media use has been associated with higher levels of depression.
While excessive social networking time seems to be a major factor in loneliness, a new article in Telematics and Informatics argues that productive uses of these platforms to connect with individuals and experience companionship might also help mitigate loneliness. The article is authored by Brandon Bouchillon, an associate professor of journalism at the University of Arkansas.
In this study, Bouchillon explored how the quality of friendships formed online influences individuals’ self-esteem and loneliness. He differentiates between trait self-esteem, which is more stable and lasting, and state self-esteem, which is temporary and may be affected by things like receiving likes on a social media post.
To conduct the study, Bouchillon administered a web-based survey to 1,500 participants, reflecting U.S. Census demographics regarding sex, race, ethnicity, age, and region. He successfully followed up with more than half of the respondents six weeks later. Participants were asked to respond to statements like, “I am a person of worth” and “I feel that I possess several good qualities,” rating their agreement on a scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”
Additionally, respondents reflected on their feelings of being left out or isolated in the past week. Questions assessing the quality of online friendships inquired whether they shared jokes with friends on social media or felt a sense of togetherness while using these platforms.
Generally, Bouchillon found that younger participants aged 18-39 reported higher quality of networked friendships compared to individuals aged 50 and above. Nevertheless, this younger demographic also reported lower self-esteem and higher loneliness rates. However, those who experienced connection and camaraderie with their peers on social media saw an increase in self-esteem, even six weeks later, particularly among users up to the age of 61. In younger generations, enhanced self-esteem led to lowered feelings of loneliness, although this effect diminished for those in their 60s and 70s.
Individuals over 70 indicated lower self-esteem when they developed online closeness with others, possibly because they view digital friendships as less substantial compared to in-person relationships.
“I’ve discovered that changes in personal networks — such as developing a sense of closeness and camaraderie with fellow social media users — can result in heightened self-worth, which correlates with reduced feelings of social isolation over time,” Bouchillon stated.
“While self-perception tends to be relatively stable throughout life,” he continued, “creating remote connections and experiencing camaraderie can improve your self-image and lessen feelings of loneliness, which may, in turn, reduce the likelihood of self-harm and suicide.”
Bouchillon became interested in this research following a warning from the Surgeon General last year about escalating suicide rates in America, urging researchers to explore how networked communication can foster connections.
“It’s quite challenging to address suicidal thoughts and self-harm directly through surveys,” Bouchillon elaborated. “These subjects are socially uncomfortable to discuss, and individuals are often hesitant to admit such feelings. However, they are typically more open about their experiences of social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, I’m tackling the issues of suicide risk and suicidal thoughts through the context of loneliness in this study.”
Ultimately, Bouchillon advocates for implementing high school, college, and adult education programs that teach effective and safe practices for using social networking platforms to connect with a diverse range of people.
While the paper does not primarily focus on the best methods for fostering online friendships, Bouchillon plans to address this in another upcoming study for Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies. His findings suggest that engaging in hobby and interest groups centered around non-political topics can facilitate these connections.
Utilizing shared interests as an icebreaker on social media platforms could help users initially overlook their differences, allowing their personal networks to expand, thus potentially enhancing feelings of companionship. Non-political themes might include fan clubs for sports teams or shared pursuits like hiking, gardening, or birdwatching. Connecting based on common interests could promote real-world social engagement and encourage a wider range of social camaraderie.
