Connecting or Isolating: The Paradoxical Role of Social Media in Loneliness

The ubiquity of social media platforms has revolutionized interpersonal communication, paradoxically aligning with escalating global loneliness rates. This paper synthesizes recent empirical research on the non-linear association between social media usage and loneliness, moderated by individual and contextual variables. Active engagement bolsters social networks, mitigating loneliness, whereas passive consumption exacerbates it through mechanisms such as social comparison and fear of missing out (FOMO). The analysis delineates contextual contingencies under which digital platforms attenuate or intensify loneliness, alongside pivotal moderators and mediators, including personality traits, usage patterns, social comparison, and social support. Ultimately, social media usage correlates with loneliness, albeit within a complex, often contradictory empirical landscape.