BBC News School Report @ LCS

Interviewing people at local shops.

Scientists have proven that the longer you spend on social media i.e. Instagram, Facebook, the lonelier you feel. Studies have verified that people who spend more than 2 hours a day on social media networks have a higher chance of feeling socially confined.

This study was carried out by the University of Pittsburgh. In 2014 researchers questioned 1,787 adults between the age of 19 and 32 about their use of social media sites and how much they use them? They found that people who visit social networks more than 58 times a week are three times more likely to feel rejected and alone than those who use these sites 9 times a week.

It has been said that social media is a large contributor to the rise of something called FOMO (Fear of missing out) although sadly this study suggests that the problem may be a lot more serious than previously thought.

However, it’s not clear whether social media causes loneliness or whether it is just that people who are already lonely are more likely to spend longer on social media a day.

“We do not yet know which came first – the social media use or the perceived social isolation.” Co-author Elizabeth Miller, professor of paediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, said.

The scientists allowed for demographic differences and maintained that there’s a link between social media usage and loneliness. However, as well as FOMO (Fear of Missing out) from events you didn’t attend which are shared on social media, the study suggests that the longer time that you spend on social networks, the less time you have for real social interaction off the phone.

“We are inherently social creatures, but modern life tends to compartmentalise us instead of bringing us together,” Professor Brian Primack, from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, said. “While it may seem that social media presents opportunities to fill that social void, I think this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for.”

As suicides and mental health problems increases amongst students and young adults social media use is being increasingly scrutinised.

I produced a survey asking people: how many times a day do you use social media? Does it affect your mental health? 100% of people said that they used their social media daily. 40% of people said that they used it 4 times a day and 60% of people said that they used it 10 times or more a day. I then asked them if they think using their phones much and using social media could affect their mental health: 2/6 people said that they think that it could. 1/6 people said that it does as they had researched it and 50% of people said that they didn’t think that it could affect their mental health. What do you think?

We do not yet know which came first-the social kedia use or the perceived social isolation.

Co-author Elizabeth Miller, professor of Paedriatrics at the Universty of Pittsburgh.

We are inherently social creatures, but modern life tends to compartmentalise us instead of bringing us together, While it may seem that social media presents opportunities to fill that social void, I think this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for.

Professor Brian Primack, from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine.