"Ask the Experts": How does social media impact loneliness in college students?

More than 20 years after Facebook launched, have social media platforms actually made the world less social? The connection between social media and another modern phenomenon, the loneliness epidemic, is the subject of our latest “Ask the Experts” podcast episode. 

We spoke to Madelyn Hill, assistant professor of instruction in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, about her recent research that analyzed data from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment and found a link between excessive social media use and loneliness in college students. 

Young adults are twice as likely to report loneliness than older adults, and Hill says her research was inspired in part by her own tendency to “doom scroll.” The habit led her to a simple question. 

“Is social media giving us that connection we yearn for?” she says.

In the podcast episode, we dive into that question and explore the evolution of social media from the early days of slice-of-life posts into what Hill identifies as “people’s highlight reels” and content from celebrities and influencers. 

Hill says social media can still be used to foster actual social connection, though.

“Some of what the platform provides can lead to [loneliness], but also it comes down to the user and how they’re using it to actually socially connect,” she says.

Hill also points out that the connection between social media use and loneliness is not universal.

“Other research has shown that sometimes, for certain demographics or marginalized groups, using social media is very good for their social connection."

Her research also shows that fourth- and fifth-year students report less loneliness than younger students.

“We are seeing that as students…start to integrate onto campus, maybe they start to make these social connections and gain more social health,” she explains.

Hill goes on to describe her personal approach to breaking the doom scroll habit and encourages students to consider using social media to connect in-person with campus clubs and organizations.

“I think social media can be a great way for students who are either introverts or new students to start to connect to campus, to then make those connections IRL—and that means in real life." (She says the last part with a laugh.)

Listen to our episode now to hear more of Madelyn Hill’s insights about how to fight loneliness without abandoning social media entirely.