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Loneliness and social media
Hall, Jeffrey
Hall, Jeffrey
Abstract
After defining five possible pathways to increase belonging through social media use, this narrative review summarizes the research on social media and loneliness. The association between social media use and loneliness is examined at the trait level and change in loneliness over time. Next, the use of social media during the COVID pandemic and its use to increase belonging at the momentary or daily level are summarized. Following, the use of social media to cope with loneliness or ostracism as well as the social compensation and enhancement hypotheses are examined. The evidence suggests social media use is weakly related to trait loneliness, explains little variance in loneliness relative to other predictors, and fails to explain a change in loneliness over time. There is no evidence it causes loneliness. On any given day, however, social media use may be used to promote belongingness but may not be a good means of coping with loneliness in the long term. This narrative review concludes that future research should firmly situate the study of loneliness and social media in the context of social interactions and relationships by carefully examining when and for whom it is beneficial or harmful.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article, Hall, J. A. (2025). Loneliness and social media. Ann NY Acad Sci., 1543, 5–16. ], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15275]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Date
2024-12-12
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Wiley
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Available after 12/12/2025
Adobe PDF, 311.56 KB
- Embargoed until 2025-12-12
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Keywords
Technology, Belonging, General approbation, Group inclusion, Loneliness, Parasocial relationships, Social interaction, Social media
Citation
Hall, J. A. (2025). Loneliness and social media. Ann NY Acad Sci., 1543, 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15275