Social Media websites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter are making more people feel lonely according to US psychologists. The report concluded that more than two hours of social media use a day, doubled the chances of an individual experiencing social isolation.
The report further disclosed that when these persons expose themselves to idealised representations of other people’s lives, it is likely to cause feelings of envy. The psychologists interviewed 1,787 adults aged between 19 and 32 about their social media use.
Each person was checked for ‘self-perceived social isolation’ adopting a standard technique called the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (Promis) which provides results for a large number of measurements. The connection with isolation was still found even after taking account of social and demographic factors that might have influenced the results.
Professor Brian Primack, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Lead Scientist said: “We are inherently social creatures, but modern life tends to compartmentalise us instead of bringing us together. While it may seem that social media presents opportunities to fill that social void, I think this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for.”
Elizabeth Miller, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh as well as a co-author of the report said: “We do not yet know which came first – the social media use or the perceived social isolation. It’s possible that young adults who initially felt socially isolated turned to social media. Or it could be that their increased use of social media somehow led to feeling isolated from the real world.”
Perhaps, if you find yourself feeling like this while online, it’s may be time to take time off.
