Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Emotions and Loneliness in a Networked Society pp 309–331Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Loneliness and Social Media: A Qualitative Investigation of Young People’s Motivations for Use, and Perceptions of Social Networking Sites

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Ubiquitous and easy to use, social media platforms have changed the way we communicate, make new friends or maintain old friendships. Unexpectedly, in the age of enhanced social interconnectivity, people feel lonelier than ever (Turkle 2011), especially young adults (16–24 years old) who are avid social media users are frequently reported to be significantly lonelier than any other age group (Office for National Statistics 2018). This chapter advances our understanding of the relationship between loneliness and social networking websites (SNSs) use and aims to put an end to the debate regarding whether or not SNS use is making young adults lonelier. This is the first research in the UK that analyses and compares the way different SNSs (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat) can increase or decrease loneliness in young adults.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bhutta, C.B. 2012. Not by the Book: Facebook as a Sampling Frame. Sociological Research and Methods, March 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124112440795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blachnio, A., A. Przepiorka, W. Boruch, and E. Balakier. 2016. Self-Presentation Styles, Privacy, and Loneliness as Predictors of Facebook Use in Young People. Personality and Individual Differences 94: 26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.12.051.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blazun, H., K. Saranto, and S. Rissanen. 2012. Impact of Computer Training Courses on Reduction of Loneliness of Older People in Finland and Slovenia. Computers in Human Behavior 28: 1202–1212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., and V. Clarke. 2006. Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3: 77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bree, R., and G. Gallagher. 2016. Using Microsoft Excel to Code and Thematically Analyse Qualitative Data: A Simple, Cost-Effective Approach. All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (AISHE-J) 8 (2): 2811–28114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, d.m., and N.B. Ellison. 2007. Social Network Sites: Definitions, History, and Scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13 (1), 210–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, M., C. Marlow, and T. Lento. 2010. Social Network Activity and Social Well-Being; Paper Presented at the Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 1901–1912, ACM Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cacioppo, John T., Louise C. Hawkley, L. Elizabeth Crawford, John M. Ernst, Mary H. Burleson, Ray B. Kowalewski, William B. Malarkey, Eve Van Cauter, and Gary G. Berntson. 2002. Loneliness and Health: Potential Mechanisms. Psychosomatic Medicine 64 (3): 407–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castleberry, A., and A. Nolen. 2018. Thematic Analysis of Qualitative Research Data: Is It as Easy as It Sounds? Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 10: 807–815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.03.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Couldry, Nick. 2015. Social Media: Human Life. Social Media + Society 1 (1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305115580336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cramer, Kenneth M., and Joanne E. Barry. 1999. Conceptualizations and Measures of Loneliness: A Comparison of Subscales. Personality and Individual Differences 27 (3): 491–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong Gierveld, J., and T. van Tilburg. 2006. A 6-Item Scale for Overall, Emotional, and Social Loneliness. Confirmatory Tests on Survey Data. Research on Aging 28 (5): 582–598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deters, F. g., and M. R. Mehl. 2013. Does Posting Facebook Status Updates Increase or Decrease Loneliness? An Online Social Networking Experiment. Social Psychological and Personality Science 4 (5). https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550612469233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, N.B., C. Steinfield, and C. Lampe. 2007. The Benefits of Facebook “Friends:” Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 12 (4): 1143–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdoğan, Y. 2008. Exploring the Relationships Among Internet Usage, Internet Attitudes and Loneliness of Turkish Adolescents. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace 2 (2), Article 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fokkema, T., and K. Knipscheer. 2007. Escape Loneliness by Going Digital: A Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of a Dutch Experiment in Using ECT to Overcome Loneliness Among Older Adults. Aging & Mental Health 11: 496–504. (PubMed: 17882587).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromm-Reichmann, F. 1959. Loneliness. Psychiatry 22 (1): 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, J. 2010. The Lonely Society? London: Mental Health Foundation. Available at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_lonely_society_report.pdf.

  • Gross, E.F. 2004. Adolescent Internet Use: What We Expect, What Teens Report. Applied Developmental Psychology 25: 633–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, E.F., J. Juvonen, and S.L. Gable. 2002. Internet Use and Well-Being in Adolescence. Journal of Social Issues 58: 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, Y., Y. Li, and N. Ito. 2014. Exploring the Predicted Effect of Social Networking Site Use on Perceived Social Capital and Psychological Well-Being of Chinese International Students in Japan. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking 17: 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkley, Louise C., and John T. Cacioppo. 2010. Loneliness Matters: A Theoretical and Empirical Review of Consequences and Mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 40 (2): 218–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich, Liesl M., and Eleonora Gullone. 2006. The Clinical Significance of Loneliness: A Literature Review. Clinical Psychology Review 26 (6): 695–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, Mary Elizabeth, Linda J. Waite, Louise C. Hawkley, and John T. Cacioppo. 2004. A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys. Research on Aging 26 (6): 655–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin, B., and Park, N. 2012. Mobile Voice Communication and Loneliness: Cell Phone Use and the Social Skills Deficit Hypothesis. New Media & Society 0 (0): 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, Simon. 2019. Digital Report 2019: Essential Insights into How People Around the World Use the Internet Mobile Devices, Social Media and E-Commerce. Hootsuite. Available at https://wearesocial.com/global-digital-report-2019.

  • Kraut, R., M. Patterson, V. Lundmark, S. Kiesler, T. Mukopadhyay, and W. Scherlis. 1998. Internet Paradox. A Social Technology that Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-Being? American Psychologist 53: 1017–1031. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.53.9.1017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kross, E., P. Verduyn, E. Demiralp, J. Park, D. Lee, N. Lin, H. Shablack, J. Jonides, and O. Ybarra. 2013. Facebook Use Predicts Declines in Subjective Well-Being in Young Adults. PloS one 8: e69841. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemieux, R., S. Lajoie, and N.E. Trainor. 2013. Affinity Seeking, Social Loneliness and Social Avoidance Among Facebook Users. Psychological Reports: Physical and Mental Health 112: 545–552. https://doi.org/10.2466/07.pr0.112.2.545-552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lou, L., Z. Yan, A. Nickerson, and R. McMorris. 2012. An Examination of the Reciprocal Relationship of Loneliness and Facebook Use Among First-Year College Students. Journal of Educational Computing Research 46: 105–117. https://doi.org/10.2190/EC.46.1.e.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, Ye, Louise C. Hawkley, Linda J. Waite, and John T. Cacioppo. 2012. Loneliness, Health, and Mortality in Old Age: A National Longitudinal Study. Social Science & Medicine 74 (6): 907–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, M., and B. Delahunt. 2017. Doing a Thematic Analysis: A Practical, Step-by-Step Guide for Learning and Teaching Scholars. All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (AISHE-J) 9 (3): 3351–33514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuba, M. 2006. Searching for Self and Relationships Online. CyberPsychology & Behavior 9: 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McWhirter, B.T. 1990. Loneliness: A Review of Current Literature, with Implications for Counseling and Research. Journal of Counseling and Development 68 (4): 417–422. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1990.tb02521x.

  • Morahan-Martin, Janet, and Phyllis Schumacher. 2003. Loneliness and Social Uses of the Internet. Computers in Human Behavior 19 (6): 659–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nie, N.H., Hillygus, D.S., and Erbring, L. 2002. Internet Use, Personal Relations and Sociability: A Time Diary Study. In The Internet in Everyday Life, ed. B. Wellman and C. Haythornthwaite, 215–243. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowland, R., E. Necka, and J.T. Cacioppo. 2017. Loneliness and Social Internet Use: Pathways to Reconnection in a Digital World? Perspectives on Psychological Science 13: 70–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617713052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nummela, Olli, Marjaana Seppänen, and Antti Uutela. 2011. The Effect of Loneliness and Change in Loneliness on Self-Rated Health (SRH): A Longitudinal Study Among Aging People. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 53 (2): 163–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odacı, H., and M. Kalkan. 2010. Problematic Internet Use, Loneliness and Dating Anxiety Among Young Adult University Students. Computers & Education 55: 1091–1097.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office for national Statistics. 2018. Loneliness—What Characteristics and Circumstances Are Associated with Feeling Lonely? Analysis of Characteristics and Circumstances with Loneliness in England Using the Community Life Survey, 2016 to 2017. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/lonelinesswhatcharacteristicsandcircumstancesareassociatedwithfeelinglonely/2018-04-10.

  • Oldmeadow, Julian A., Sally Quinn, and Rachel Kowert. 2013. Attachment Style, Social Skills, and Facebook Use Amongst Adults. Computers in Human Behavior 29 (3): 1142–1149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ong, C., S. Chang, and C. Wang. 2011. Comparative Loneliness of Users Versus Non-Users of Online Chatting. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking 14 (1–2): 35–40. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2009.0321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özdemir, Y., Y. Kuzucu, and S. Ak. 2014. Depression, Loneliness, and Internet Addiction: How Important Is Low Self-Control. Computers in Human Behavior 34: 284–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.02.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozsaker, M., G.K. Muslu, A. Kahraman, D. Beytut, F. Yardimci, and Z. Basbakkal. 2015. A Study on the Effects of Loneliness, Depression and Perceived Social Support on Problematic Internet Use Among University Students. Anthropologist 19: 533–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Öztunç, Mustafa. 2013. Analysis of Problematic Mobile Phone Use, Feelings of Shyness and Loneliness in Accordance with Several Variables. Procedia—Social and Behavioral Sciences 106: 456–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peper, E., and R. Harvey. 2018. Digital Addiction: Increased Loneliness, Anxiety and Depression. NeuroRegulation 5 (1). https://doi.org/10.15540/nr.5.1.3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, Martin, and Silvia Sorensen. 2010. Influences on Loneliness in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis. Basic and Applied Social Psychology 23 (4): 245–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pittman, M., and B. Reich. 2016. Social Media and Loneliness: Why an Instagram Picture May Be Worth More Than a Thousand Twitter Words. Computers in Human Behavior 62: 155–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prensky, Marc. 2001. Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1. On the Horizon 9 (5): 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Przybylsk, A.K., and N. Weinstein. 2012. Can You Connect with Me Now? How the Presence of Mobile Communication Technology Influences Face-to-Face Conversation Quality. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 30: 237–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, Donna J., and Fraser J.M. Reid. 2007. Text or Talk? Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and Divergent Preferences for Cell Phone Use. CyberPsychology & Behavior 10 (3): 424–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, B.B., and E.L. Marks. 2011. Using Facebook to Locate Sample Members. Survey Practive, October. Available at https://surveypractice.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/using-facebook-to-locate-sample-members/.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, H.J., and I.S. Rubin. 1995. Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, Dan, Letitia Anne Peplau, and Mary Lund Ferguson. 1978. Developing a Measure of Loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment 42 (3): 290–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, T., and S. Xenos. 2011. Who Uses Facebook? An Investigation into the Relationship Between the Big Five, Shyness, Narcissism, Loneliness, and Facebook Usage. Computers in Human Behavior 27: 1658–1664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.02.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sage, A. 2013. The Facebook Platform and the Future of Social Research. In Social Media, Sociality and Survey Research, 133–147. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Şar, A.H., G.Y. Goktürk, T. Gülşah, and N. Kazaz. 2012. Is the Internet Use an Effective Method to Cope with Elderly Loneliness and Decrease Loneliness Symptom? Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences 55: 153–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stepanikova, Irena, Norman H. Nie, and Xiaobin He. 2010. Time on the Internet at Home, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from Panel Time-Diary Data. Computers in Human Behavior 26 (3): 329–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, K. 2012. Profiling the Non-Users: Examination of Life Position Indicators, Sensation Seeking, Shyness and Loneliness Among Users and Non-Users of Social Networking Sites. Computers in Human Behavior 28: 1960–1965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.05.016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skues, J.L., B. Williams, and L. Wise. 2012. The Effects of Personality Traits, Self-Esteem, Loneliness, and Narcissism on Facebook Use Among University Students. Computers in Human Behavior 28: 2414–2419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spraggins, A. 2011. Problematic Use of Online Social Networking Sites for College Students: Prevalence, Predictors, and Association with Well-Being. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. US: ProQuest Information & Learning. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2011-99100-014&site=ehost-live.

  • Subrahmanyam, K., and G. Lin. 2007. Adolescents on the Net: Internet Use and Well-Being. Adolescence 42: 659–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takao, Motoharu, Susumu Takahashi, and Masayoshi Kitamura. 2009. Addictive Personality and Problematic Mobile Phone Use. CyberPsychology & Behavior 12 (5): 501–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TAN, Ç., M. Pamuk, and A. Dönder. 2013. Loneliness and Mobile Phone. Procedia-Social and behavioural Sciences 103: 606–611, Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813038238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twenge, J.M., B.H. Spitzberg, K.W. and Campbell. 2019. Less In-Person Social Interaction with Peers Among U.S. Adolescents in the 21st Century and Links to Loneliness. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 36 (6). https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519836170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uusiautti, Satu, and Kaarina Määttä. 2014. I Am No Longer Alone—How Do University Students Perceive the Possibilities of Social Media? International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 19 (3): 293–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor, Christina R., and Keming Yang. 2012. The Prevalence of Loneliness Among Adults: A Case Study of the United Kingdom. The Journal of Psychology 146 (1–2): 85–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, R., and V.H. Lo. 2006. Staying Connected While on the Move: Mobile Phone Use and Social Connectedness. New Media & Society 8: 53–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the ERAS Scheme at the University of Wolverhampton. I am very grateful to the anonymous reviewers and to Dr. Fran Pheasant Kelly for their invaluable comments on earlier versions of this chapter. Thanks also go to Ameena Khan for assistance with data collection and proofreading. Finally, my sincere thanks go to Lucy Batrouney and Mala Sanghera-Warren and the team at Palgrave Macmillan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Bianca Fox

Authors
  1. Bianca Fox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bianca Fox .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK

    Bianca Fox

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Fox, B. (2019). Loneliness and Social Media: A Qualitative Investigation of Young People’s Motivations for Use, and Perceptions of Social Networking Sites. In: Fox, B. (eds) Emotions and Loneliness in a Networked Society. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24882-6_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation