Social Media Creates Isolation: The Hidden Reality

Introduction

Nowadays, social media is the virtual escape for teens and some adults. It’s where we go to release any stress or to get things off of our mind, or just to socialize, thats why its called “social” media right? It’s social media because we socialize with others? However, in reality, social media creates isolation because it separates the user from reality, perpetuating a sense of detachment and seclusion. This phenomenon causes social media users to feel even more lonely or isolated compared to those who don’t use social media. The use of social media may be employed to keep in touch with loved ones or friends, but it also serves as a platform for venting online, which paradoxically leads users to become more isolated due to the lack of face-to-face interaction with others who could potentially offer help or advice. When you’re socially isolated, you exist in “a state in which you lack a sense of social belonging, true engagement with others, and fulfilling relationships” (Primack). This state is frequently attained when social media is in use, as the constant interaction with virtual platforms often entails a gradual 'disconnection' from reality, effectively contributing to the creation of isolation.

The Paradox of Social Media and Isolation

To begin, it’s argued that social media really doesn’t create isolation because it allows us to meet new people and make new relationships along with keeping up-to-date with family and friends. This may be true, yet it still creates isolation because while using social media you are able to see what your friends are up to. While doing so, “you might watch all these interactions where it seems like everyone else is connecting”(Hobson). “This could lead to feeling excluded” or isolated (Hobson).

Social media allows you to keep up to date with everyone and if everyone is talking about hanging out, you’re left alone because you’re not meeting up with friends like everyone else. This will quickly lead you to feel isolated and in cases cause you to become depressed. It’s crucial to balance your social life with social media because too much social media will negatively affect your mental health in the long run. A survey conducted by Brian Primack showed that those who used “social media for more than two hours a day, had twice the odds of social isolation than those who said they spent half an hour per day or less.”(Hobson) This further shows that even while keeping up with friends using social media, it still creates isolation because the face to face interaction is missing. Furthermore, even when you’re out and about in public, you could still become isolated if you use social media. For example, “you’re in public waiting for a friend to arrive, you open up and app to avoid awkward eye contact” (Amatenstein).

Conclusion

This proves that even while you’re in the most social area, you can still be isolated because of social media. When you are already feeling lonely, social media just adds to it and further develops this feeling.

References

1. Primack, B. A. (n.d.). Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S. Emotion, 17(6), 1026–1032. DOI: 10.1037/emo0000525

2. Hobson, K. (n.d.). The Social Media Paradox: Are We Really More Connected? Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-social-media-paradox-are-we-really-more-connected

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3. Amatenstein, S. (n.d.). The Dangerous Ways Social Media Affects Your Mental Health. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-dangerous-ways-social-media-affects-your-mental-health