US EditionDoes social media make you lonelier?
The study found that 13% of college students use social media excessively, with loneliness increasing by up to 38% for those spending 30+ hours weekly, researchers said.
- Published in the Journal of American College Health, researchers reported that nearly 65,000 students at more than 120 colleges linked 16+ weekly social media hours to higher loneliness odds, according to study leaders.
- Researchers analyzed survey questions on hours and loneliness by asking college students ages 18–24 about typical weekly social media use and feelings of isolation.
- The analysis showed specific odds rising with more hours: 16–20 hours linked to 19%, 21–25 hours 23%, 26–30 hours 34%, and at least 30 hours 38% higher loneliness odds.
- Study authors recommended college administrators and higher education leaders educate students about social media harms, promote campus events and educational campaigns, and encourage time limits as `They may then cut back on it or even set time limits for themselves`.
- Patterns showed female students and students living at home were particularly likely to report loneliness, though research on causation remains mixed.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Social Media Linked to Student Loneliness
A University of Cincinnati study found more than half of college students feel lonely, with heavy social media use raising the risk. More than half of college students nationwide are lonely, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati, and those who use social media the most are particularly likely to feel isolated. The study found that spending just 16 hours a week—a little more than two hours a day—on social media was linked wi…
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Does social media make you lonelier?
Just 16 hours a week - or around two hours a day - on social media was linked with higher odds of loneliness.
A study of nearly 65,000 university students found that spending at least two hours a day on social media is associated with greater isolation.
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