With so many ways to connect with others digitally, why are people still so lonely? Can technology play a role in reducing our feelings of loneliness? It’s a question some psychologists have been asking, but at this point the research is still mixed, and may depend on an individual’s age.
For example, one study of nearly 600 older adults—led by Michigan State University psychologist William Chopik, PhD—found that social technology use, including email, Facebook, online video services such as Skype and instant messaging, was linked to lower levels of loneliness, better self-rated health and fewer chronic illnesses and depressive symptoms (Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, Vol. 19, No. 9, 2016opens in new window).
Other research has shown, however, that among young adults—18- to 22-year-olds, for example—decreasing time spent on social media can actually reduce feelings of loneliness, according to a study led by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Melissa Hunt, PhD (Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, Vol. 37, No. 10, 2018opens in new window).
One thing experts do agree on is that technology is changing the way we’re interacting socially. The difference in its effects seems to lie in how it’s used, says University of Chicago psychologist Louise Hawkley, PhD.
"Those who are substituting online relationships for real relationships, unsurprisingly, don’t see a reduction in loneliness and in fact may actually see a deterioration relative to people who use online interactions to supplement their face-to-face relationships," she says. "For older adults who use Skype to talk with their grandkids who live across the country from them, technology really can improve their sense of connectedness."