Social Media Is Making You Feel Lonely (Even If You Don't Think It Is)

Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to connect with people all over the world. Want to find other people who are questioning their gender identity or who are also struggling with cystic acne? Living far away from your significant other or important friends? There are literally apps for that now (and people are using them). It just take a quick search on Instagram or Google to find people anywhere on the planet with similar interests and struggles

Yet, even though the digital era has theoretically made us more connected, we have never been more disconnected from one another. In fact, despite the increasingly widespread use of the internet and social media, the percentage of Americans who feel lonely has increased from 20 percent in the 1980s to a shocking 40 percent in the present day. And social media isn't necessarily helping: Some studies have shown1 an alarming association between feelings of loneliness and excessive social media usage.

Connection to others is important for mental health, because it can help us build resilience and manage stress. Building strong relationships helps us stay positive and feel balanced, even in the most stressful of life circumstances. Strong connectedness has even been associated with the prevention of or better recovery from medical issues2, from serious illnesses to the common cold.

Whether you're on Instagram or Twitter, it's easy to present a one-sided view of your reality to project a certain (arguably unattainable) image. Even though many people understand this from an intellectual perspective, the emotional implications may be very different. A lot of my patients have expressed that seeing these images of others’ seemingly perfect lives makes them feel insecure about their own struggles.

When I suggest that someone takes a break from social media, I’ll often hear the argument that passively scrolling through social media is a form of relaxation and an opportunity to catch up on their friends’ lives. While this might seem like a mindless, passive way to relax, it actually is also simultaneously agitating and stimulating, particularly in the evening when the screen’s emission of blue light interferes with sleep quality. Further, the habitual scrolling past multiple posts is not necessarily a meaningful way to connect with others through social media.

Of course, plenty of people do set healthy boundaries with social media, and it may not be realistic (or even good) to cut yourself off completely from the digital world. For example, some of my patients who are transgender report that part of their journey entailed connecting with others online who were going through a similar journey. One study found that people in remote villages who had been equally devastated by a recent earthquake were able to find one another online, connect, and support one another as they recovered and rebuilt. A study in China found that many elderly citizens reported more life satisfaction when using online social networking sites3 to connect. In these cases, social media helped struggling people reach and empower one another.

All it takes is one text or notification to distract your attention from what’s happening in front of you.