Investigating on the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Adolescent Loneliness

Research Article
Open access

Investigating on the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Adolescent Loneliness

Zengke Huang 1*
  • 1 Lingnan University    
  • *corresponding author 20150435440@mail.sdufe.edu.cn
Published on 26 October 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/13/20230917
LNEP Vol.13
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-051-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-052-3

Abstract

In contemporary times, the utilization of social media by adolescents has raised significant concerns and apprehensions among both societal and familial circles. Extensive research has consistently shown that the usage of social media by teenagers is closely linked to the emergence of loneliness, thereby establishing a conclusive association between the two phenomena. However, these findings need to provide directional evidence to prove a decisive causal relationship between the two directly. This study examines the association between teenagers’ use of social media and loneliness in terms of frequency of social media use, age, gender, usage patterns, motivation, and platform of use, as well as a summary of the roles of various contributing factors. This research claims that social media use and loneliness are bidirectional and dynamic. Among the population of adolescents, the motivation and manner in which they use social media can influence whether they benefit from social media use or whether it continues to deepen their feelings of isolation.

Keywords:

social media, loneliness, adolescents, frequency, usage patterns

Huang,Z. (2023). Investigating on the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Adolescent Loneliness. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,13,296-303.
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References

[1]. S. M. Coyne, A. A. Rogers, J. D. Zurcher, L. Stockdale, and M. Booth, ‘Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight year longitudinal study’, Comput Hum Behav, vol. 104, p. 106160, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.106160.

[2]. G. Esposito, ‘Social Media Usage and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, 2021.

[3]. J. I. van Tonder, J. Jordaan, and K. Esterhuyse, ‘Self-esteem, Interpersonal Communication Competence, and Media and Technology Usage as Predictors of Loneliness Among University Students’, SAGE Open, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 215824402211483, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1177/21582440221148379.

[4]. L. Youssef, ‘Social media use disorder and loneliness: any association between the two? Results of a cross-sectional study among Lebanese adults’, 2020.

[5]. R. Nowland, E. A. Necka, and J. T. Cacioppo, ‘Loneliness and Social Internet Use: Pathways to Reconnection in a Digital World?’, Perspect Psychol Sci, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 70–87, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1177/1745691617713052.

[6]. J. M. Twenge, B. H. Spitzberg, and W. K. Campbell, ‘Less in-person social interaction with peers among U.S. adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness’, J Soc Pers Relat, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 1892–1913, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.1177/0265407519836170.

[7]. T. Liu, ‘Head versus heart: social media reveals differential language of loneliness from depression’, 2022, doi: 10.1038/s44184-022-00014-7.

[8]. D. Smith, T. Leonis, and S. Anandavalli, ‘Belonging and loneliness in cyberspace: impacts of social media on adolescents’ well-being’, Aust J Psychol, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 12–23, 2021, doi: 10.1080/00049530.2021.1898914.

[9]. J. A. Hall, J. Dominguez, and T. Mihailova, ‘Interpersonal Media and Face-to-Face Communication: Relationship with Life Satisfaction and Loneliness’, J Happiness Stud, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10902-022-00581-8.

[10]. Z. E. Seidler, M. J. Wilson, S. M. Rice, D. Kealy, J. L. Oliffe, and J. S. Ogrodniczuk, ‘Virtual connection, real support? A study of loneliness, time on social media and psychological distress among men’, Int J Soc Psychiatr, vol. 68, no. 2, pp. 288–293, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1177/0020764020983836.

[11]. L. M. Pop, M. Iorga, and R. Iurcov, ‘Body-esteem, self-esteem and loneliness among social media young users’, International journal of environmental research and public health, vol. 19, no. 9, p. 5064, 2022.

[12]. S. Ye, K. K. W. Ho, and A. Zerbe, ‘The effects of social media usage on loneliness and well-being: analysing friendship connections of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram’, Information Discovery and Delivery, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 136–150, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1108/IDD-08-2020-0091.

Cite this article

Huang,Z. (2023). Investigating on the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Adolescent Loneliness. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,13,296-303.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Educational Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries

ISBN：978-1-83558-051-6(Print) / 978-1-83558-052-3(Online)
Editor：Javier Cifuentes-Faura, Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://www.iceipi.org/
Conference date: 7 August 2023
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.13
ISSN：2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. S. M. Coyne, A. A. Rogers, J. D. Zurcher, L. Stockdale, and M. Booth, ‘Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight year longitudinal study’, Comput Hum Behav, vol. 104, p. 106160, Mar. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.106160.

[2]. G. Esposito, ‘Social Media Usage and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, 2021.

[3]. J. I. van Tonder, J. Jordaan, and K. Esterhuyse, ‘Self-esteem, Interpersonal Communication Competence, and Media and Technology Usage as Predictors of Loneliness Among University Students’, SAGE Open, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 215824402211483, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1177/21582440221148379.

[4]. L. Youssef, ‘Social media use disorder and loneliness: any association between the two? Results of a cross-sectional study among Lebanese adults’, 2020.

[5]. R. Nowland, E. A. Necka, and J. T. Cacioppo, ‘Loneliness and Social Internet Use: Pathways to Reconnection in a Digital World?’, Perspect Psychol Sci, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 70–87, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1177/1745691617713052.

[6]. J. M. Twenge, B. H. Spitzberg, and W. K. Campbell, ‘Less in-person social interaction with peers among U.S. adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness’, J Soc Pers Relat, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 1892–1913, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.1177/0265407519836170.

[7]. T. Liu, ‘Head versus heart: social media reveals differential language of loneliness from depression’, 2022, doi: 10.1038/s44184-022-00014-7.

[8]. D. Smith, T. Leonis, and S. Anandavalli, ‘Belonging and loneliness in cyberspace: impacts of social media on adolescents’ well-being’, Aust J Psychol, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 12–23, 2021, doi: 10.1080/00049530.2021.1898914.

[9]. J. A. Hall, J. Dominguez, and T. Mihailova, ‘Interpersonal Media and Face-to-Face Communication: Relationship with Life Satisfaction and Loneliness’, J Happiness Stud, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10902-022-00581-8.

[10]. Z. E. Seidler, M. J. Wilson, S. M. Rice, D. Kealy, J. L. Oliffe, and J. S. Ogrodniczuk, ‘Virtual connection, real support? A study of loneliness, time on social media and psychological distress among men’, Int J Soc Psychiatr, vol. 68, no. 2, pp. 288–293, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1177/0020764020983836.

[11]. L. M. Pop, M. Iorga, and R. Iurcov, ‘Body-esteem, self-esteem and loneliness among social media young users’, International journal of environmental research and public health, vol. 19, no. 9, p. 5064, 2022.

[12]. S. Ye, K. K. W. Ho, and A. Zerbe, ‘The effects of social media usage on loneliness and well-being: analysing friendship connections of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram’, Information Discovery and Delivery, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 136–150, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1108/IDD-08-2020-0091.

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