Social Media and Loneliness

Can social media contribute to whether or not a person is lonely? Most social media sites were created to “connect” friends and acquaintances virtually, such as Facebook. These sites create a way of keeping in touch with others and sharing activities. However; they can make a person feel lonely.

Many people feel like it is a competition to get more “likes” than their peers on their social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Some people even feel the need to have more friends or followers than others, quantifying their friendships. This can cause a lot of stress and social anxiety. This constant need of approval can be an addiction and lead to loneliness.

People could also feel left out from seeing their friends all doing stuff together that they weren’t apart of. For example, it is very common for young people to post the activities they are currently doing on their Snapchat that lasts 24 hours. Social media also can cause many personal problems and drama for various reasons. Young people today also seem to spend a lot more time on social media than actually socializing in person because of the addiction to post and read others’ posts.

Social media can heavily contribute to the feeling of loneliness and social anxiety. It can have a way of taking over your social life and virtualizing friendships. The unhealthy desire to spend time checking social media is addicting and can lead to mental problems in the future.