Influence of Social Networks on the Subjective Feelings of Loneliness in Adolescents and Youth

Social networks have established themselves as a new way of communication, largely transforming the traditional interaction between people, shifting the focus from direct, live communication to the fast and convenient online analogue of social platforms. This, in turn, has led to several changes that are reflected in personal and social functioning. One of the phenomena that modern researchers are examining in this regard is the subjective feeling of loneliness in young people, which is a negative consequence of excessive social network use. This is precisely the motive for exploring this issue in this article – how social networks affect the subjective feeling of loneliness in adolescents and young people. The present study underscores the complex relationship between social media usage and feelings of loneliness among young people. Adolescents were found to be more susceptible to the negative impacts of social networks, manifesting in higher levels of loneliness compared to young adults.