Does social media make us more or less lonely? Depends on how you use it

Authors

Roger Patulny, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

141095

Publication Details

Patulny, R. (2020). Does social media make us more or less lonely? Depends on how you use it. The Conversation, 22 January 1-4.

Link to publisher version (URL)

The Conversation

Abstract

Humans are more connected to each other than ever, thanks to smartphones, the web and social media. At the same time, loneliness is a huge and growing social problem. Why is this so? Research shows social media use alone can't cure loneliness - but it can be a tool to build and strengthen our genuine connections with others, which are important for a happy life. To understand why this is the case, we need to understand more about loneliness, its harmful impact, and what this has to do with social media.