The quality of friendships on social networks can be a way to combat loneliness

Loneliness is on the rise in the US, with a third of Americans saying they have experienced “severe loneliness” in recent years. Lonely people are twice as likely to suffer from depression, and loneliness is a key risk factor for self-harm and suicide, perhaps playing a role in the record number of suicides in the US in 2023 – more than 50,000.

Many people suspect that the rise in loneliness is due to the decline in interpersonal social contact and social engagement as we spend more and more time online rather than in person. Young Americans aged 18-29 now spend more than five hours a day on social networking sites, and frequent use of associated with depression.

Spending too much time on social networks appears to be a key factor in loneliness, but a new article published in: Telematics and IT suggests that motivated use of social networking sites to connect with people and feel companionship may also play a role in mitigating this problem. The article was written by Brandon Bouchillon, a professor of journalism at the U of A.

The article examines the impact of the quality of online friendship on self-esteem and loneliness. Bouchillon distinguishes between trait self-esteem, as a more permanent and lasting form of self-esteem, and self-esteem as a state that is transient, like the boost someone might feel after liking a post on social media.

Bouchillon conducted an online survey of 1,500 participants matching U.S. Census percentages for gender, race, ethnicity, age and region of residence, and six weeks later was able to contact more than half of them. Respondents were asked statements such as: “I am a valuable person” and “I feel that I have many good qualities,” and then asked to answer on a five-point scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”

Respondents were also asked whether they had felt left out or isolated from others in the last week. Questions about the quality of online friendships asked whether they joked with friends on social networking sites or whether they felt a sense of camaraderie when they used them.

Overall, Bouchillon found that younger respondents, ages 18-29 and 30-39, reported significantly higher quality online friendships than those ages 50 and older. That said, younger people aged 18-39 also reported lower self-esteem and higher rates of loneliness. However, those who felt closeness and camaraderie with other social network users reported increased self-esteem even six weeks later, and this association was significant for users up to age 61. The increase in self-esteem translated into a reduction in loneliness among the younger generation, with the indirect effect eventually becoming negligible for users in their 60s and 70s.

People over 70 reported lower levels of self-esteem as they became closer to others on social media, perhaps because they see digital friendship less as an adjunct to real-life connections and more as a support.

“I found that changes in personal networks—feelings of closeness and camaraderie with others on social networks—can lead to increased self-esteem, and this is associated with lower levels of perceived social isolation, even over time,” Bouchillon said.

“So despite the fact that what you think about yourself is mostly stable throughout your life,” he continued, “connecting with people and feeling camaraderie even from a distance can lead to greater well-being and reduced loneliness, which is theoretically linked to less chance of self-harm and suicide.”

Bouchillon said he became interested in the topic because the Surgeon General issued a warning last year about high suicide rates in America and encouraged researchers to look at the potential of online communications to connect people.

“It’s really hard to directly address suicidal thoughts and self-harm with surveys,” Bouchillon explained. “These are socially undesirable questions and no one wants to admit they feel this way. That said, they are more likely to talk about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. That’s why in this study I attack suicide risk and the problem of suicidal ideation through the lens of loneliness.”

Bouchillon believes that a good start would be classes in high schools, colleges and universities that aim to develop best practices for safely and effectively using social networking applications to connect with new and diverse people.

The question of how best to nurture these friendships is not the focus of this article, but the topic of another, forthcoming study Human behavior and new technologiesBouchillon finds it helpful to join hobby groups and interest groups based on non-political topics.

Using common interests to break the ice on social networking sites can help users initially overlook other differences. This allows for the development of personal networks and can potentially contribute to a sense of companionship. Non-political topics may include being a fan of the same sports team or enjoying the same hobby, such as hiking, gardening, or bird watching. Connecting with people based on shared interests can be used to encourage real-world social engagement and more diverse social camaraderie.

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