CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new study from Oregon State University scientists suggests that social media connections with strangers can contribute to increased loneliness among U.S. adults. The research, published today in Public Health Reports, is the first of its kind to focus on the impact of such interactions.
This nationwide study involved more than 1,500 adults ages 30-70, revealing that connecting online with individuals known in person was not linked to either increased or decreased loneliness.
The findings suggest a critical need for individuals experiencing loneliness to reassess their online interactions and prioritize in-person connections. The official journal of the U.S. Public Health Service, Public Health Reports, published the study, marking the agency’s deep interest in the topic following the 2023 report on the nation’s loneliness epidemic by then Surgeon General Vivek Murthy…