Relationships between Social Media Use and Social Isolation among Young Adults

Social isolation, defined as a lack of meaningful social engagement and quality relationships, has severe consequences, including increased risks of depression, loneliness, dementia, poor physical health, and higher mortality rates (Lei et al., 2024). Given its impact, social isolation has become a growing public health concern, particularly among young adults, with one in three reporting significant experiences of social isolation in Australia (VicHealth, 2019). Meanwhile, young people are adopting and relying on social media, including in-app messaging and live chat, etc. This rise in social media use has led to concerns, as excessive and impulsive engagement with these platforms has been positively correlated with social isolation, especially among young adults who are most affected by social media addiction (Santini et al., 2024). Furthermore, certain social media behaviors, such as engaging in upward social comparison, can exacerbate feelings of isolation. Similarly, social media can create unnecessary tension and pressure that can test friendships and potentially destroy relationships, leading to feelings of isolation or misunderstanding (Meshi et al., 2020). Conversely, Siddiq et al. (2024) indicate that social media can provide opportunities to alleviate social isolation. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, social media facilitated interpersonal connections when face-to-face interactions were restricted. Additionally, it can foster meaningful relationships and greater community involvement by allowing individuals to share their goals and achievements within their social networks (Jayakody et al., 2022). Given these conflicting perspectives, it is essential to explore how social media use influences social isolation among young adults. Further research should examine this dynamic and identify effective interventions. We shall explore volunteering with the community as an effective strategy to reduce social isolation. Community volunteering may help foster face-to-face interactions and social engagement, ultimately reducing social isolation and enhancing social well-being of young adults.