First Advisor
James Kole
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Thesis
Date Created
5-2025
Department
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Psychological Sciences, SPS Student Work
Abstract
Despite the promise of greater connectivity through digital platforms, loneliness remains prevalent among young adults. This study investigates the impact of different types of social media use on loneliness through an experimental design—an uncommon but needed approach in a field dominated by correlational studies. Participants (n=17) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: active use with positive feedback, active use with negative feedback, broadcasting with positive feedback, broadcasting with negative feedback, and passive scrolling. Each participant interacted with a mock social media platform tailored to the University of Northern Colorado community. Loneliness was assessed using the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale immediately after the interaction. Results from a one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in loneliness scores between groups, with passive scrollers reporting significantly higher loneliness than all other conditions. A trend was also observed suggesting that receiving positive feedback may further reduce loneliness, though this did not reach statistical significance. These findings support the hypothesis that interactive engagement—regardless of feedback quality—may buffer against loneliness more effectively than passive content consumption. This study contributes to a growing body of literature suggesting that how social media is used is more critical than how much it is used, with implications for future research and mental health interventions.
Abstract Format
html
Disciplines
Psychology
Keywords
loneliness: social media: experimental design
Language
English
Extent
52 pages
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Recommended Citation
Shinazy, Ryan D., "Understanding Loneliness in the Digital Age: Implications of Social Media Use" (2025). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 126.
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/honors/126