Does Social Media Make Us Lonely?
Scientifically reviewed by Rose Perry, Ph.D.
Critics of social media often claim that it is a major cause of loneliness, especially for young people. However, this is an overly simplistic view. Scientific evidence reveals a more complex and nuanced picture, showing that social media can both support and undermine social health, depending on how, why, and by whom it is used.
Loneliness is a growing concern in the U.S., and social media is often cited as a possible cause. But what does the research actually show? Although social media has become deeply embedded in everyday life, used by 84% of U.S. adults and 95% of young adults, it’s unclear whether this technology meaningfully increases or reduces loneliness. Popular discussions often present a simplistic narrative that social media is “causing an epidemic of mental illness” and driving the loneliness crisis, but the scientific evidence thus far is more nuanced. This article summarizes key themes from recent research to shed light on how social media relates to loneliness, while recognizing that this is a rapidly evolving area of study.
When Social Media May Increase Loneliness
Several lines of research suggest that social media use may be linked to greater loneliness under certain conditions. One proposed explanation is known as the “displacement hypothesis,” which suggests that the time spent on social media may replace time that would otherwise be spent in real-world face-to-face social interactions. And arguably, because in-person interactions generally provide richer, more fulfilling social experiences, relying heavily on online communication may leave some social needs unmet, increasing loneliness [1].
Some studies show support for the hypothesis, finding that more social media use is associated with higher loneliness levels. For example, one commonly cited study found that people who reported using social media for more than two hours per day had twice the odds for increased loneliness compared to those who used social media for less than 30 minutes a day [2].
However, when the data from all the relevant studies are taken together (in what are called ‘meta-analyses’), they show generally weak, inconsistent, or non-significant associations between social media use and loneliness [3, 4]. This suggests that while some people may experience modest increases in loneliness with heavier social media use, the overall associations are small in magnitude and not consistent across studies.
Perhaps even more importantly, most of these studies suffer from a “chicken-and-egg” problem that makes it difficult to know what is causing what. In other words, when social media use and loneliness are related, it’s unclear whether social media increases loneliness or whether people who already feel lonely are more likely to use social media. This limitation stems from a common methodological limitation: most available studies rely on observational or correlational study designs that evaluate whether two variables are associated with each other, but can’t tell us whether one variable causes the other. In order to test whether one thing causes another, researchers need to use experimental study designs that involve the researcher controlling variables and randomly assigning participants to groups.
Experimental research also shows mixed support for social media use causing loneliness. A recent meta-analysis of experimental studies that tested whether reducing social media use affects well-being found only small and inconsistent changes in loneliness. Some experimental studies showed reduced loneliness when people limited their social media use, others found no meaningful change, and one study actually showed increased loneliness when participants abstained from social media entirely [5]. Overall, these findings suggest that reducing social media use does not reliably reduce loneliness, and that effects likely vary across individuals and circumstances.
The findings from this meta-analysis are particularly notable because all of the included studies used a specific type of experimental design—randomized control trials—which is the gold standard research approach for determining cause-and-effect. Thus, because these trials showed only very small and inconsistent changes in loneliness when people reduced their social media use, the results suggest that social media is most likely not a robust cause of loneliness.
Taken together, the current research indicates that social media may contribute to loneliness for some individuals—especially when it replaces meaningful offline interaction or involves passive, comparison-driven browsing—but it is unlikely to be a strong or consistent cause across all people.
When Social Media May Reduce Loneliness
On the other side of the coin, research also identifies conditions under which social media use may help reduce loneliness or increase feelings of connection. Many people use social media to maintain relationships, stay updated on friends’ lives, or find supportive communities. Adolescents, for example, report perceived benefits of social media: 80% report feeling more connected to what is happening in their friends’ lives, 67% feel they have people who can support them through tough times, and 58% say that they are more accepted as a result of what they see on social media.
Social media may also be particularly beneficial for people who typically face social barriers offline. Socially anxious, introverted, or LGBTQ+ youth often describe online environments as safer or more affirming spaces where they can connect with others who share similar experiences. Studies have found that LGBTQ+ youth often use social media to find and connect with accepting, inclusive communities, and seek social support from like-minded peers. Likewise, there is non-experimental evidence that LGBTQ+ youth who connect with peers and receive social support via social media also show reduced feelings of loneliness [6].
This research supports the idea that how and why people use social media may be an important factor in how it impacts loneliness.
To further investigate this idea, researchers have often compared how active versus passive social media use relates to loneliness. Active (or interactive) social media use includes things like intentionally liking, commenting, or messaging a friend, which can facilitate meaningful connections with others. Passive use, on the other hand, refers to mindless behaviors like doomscrolling, which can lead to unhealthy, negative social comparisons, and increased feelings of missing out (FOMO).
Again, research findings on this are mixed. A meta-analysis of 141 studies found that overall associations between active or passive use and loneliness were negligible, though there was a small trend suggesting that active use may relate to lower loneliness [7].
Experimental evidence offers some additional insight. In one study, young adults taught to use social media more intentionally (e.g., to actively engage with people with whom they wanted to deepen a friendship, unfollow accounts that led to unhealthy social comparisons) showed reduced loneliness over six weeks compared to a control group [8]. Conversely, participants instructed to abstain from social media experienced increases in loneliness, partly due to reduced engagement with friends’ online activities. These findings suggest that intentional, connection-oriented use may help reduce loneliness, while complete abstinence may inadvertently isolate some individuals.
Taken together, these results suggest that active and intentional social media engagement may reduce feelings of loneliness, but total abstinence might actually increase loneliness. Interestingly, some other studies have also found that abstaining from all social media use relates to reduced feelings of social connection and increased loneliness [9, 10].
Overall, while many of these findings are correlational, there is emerging evidence that social media can reduce loneliness in certain contexts—particularly when it supports existing relationships, enables access to supportive communities, or encourages active and intentional engagement.
What the Evidence Suggests Overall
Current research, at least for now, does not support a simple conclusion that social media necessarily increases or decreases loneliness in general. Instead, the relationship depends on how, why, and by whom social media is used. Patterns of use such as passive scrolling or substituting online activity for offline interaction may be linked to greater loneliness, while intentional engagement, supportive online communities, and relationship-building may help reduce it.
It’s also important to recognize that loneliness is shaped by many factors beyond technology, including life circumstances, social environments, personal traits, and systemic conditions. Most studies indicate that social media is likely a relatively small contributing factor within this broader landscape [11, 12].
Because this field of research is still developing, and because technologies continue to change rapidly, ongoing work is needed to better understand how social media impacts aspects of health and well-being, such as loneliness, across diverse groups and contexts.
Ultimately, the evidence suggests that while social media can contribute to loneliness for some people, these effects are not universal or inevitable. What matters most is how social media fits into the broader context of a person’s relationships, environment, and social health. As the research continues to evolve, understanding the conditions under which social media may be harmful, helpful, or largely neutral will remain essential. A more nuanced understanding can help guide healthier digital habits, without assuming that technology alone determines whether we feel connected or alone.
Cite this article:
Braren, S. H. (2025, December 11). Does Social Media Make Us Lonely? The Creature Times, Social Creatures. https://www.thesocialcreatures.org/thecreaturetimes/social-media-loneliness
In-text References
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[2] Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Whaite, E. O., Lin, L. Y., Rosen, D., Colditz, J. B., Radovic, A., & Miller, E. (2017). Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S. American journal of preventive medicine, 53(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.010
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