El impacto de las redes sociales en la cohesión social: Un estudio sociológico a los estudiantes de la carrera

This article analyzes the impact of digital social networks on social cohesion among university students, using a mixed-methods approach that combines surveys of 300 students with in-depth interviews of 20 participants. It examines the effects of everyday social media use on interpersonal relationships, collective participation, and sense of community. The findings reveal a dual dynamic: on one hand, social networks strengthen certain bonds, facilitate the expression of shared interests, and contribute to the construction of group identities; on the other hand, they tend to promote superficial relationships, social fragmentation, and ideological polarization. Moreover, excessive use of these platforms weakens face-to-face interaction and may deepen exclusion dynamics in contexts of digital inequality. The study concludes that social networks act as ambivalent agents in shaping social cohesion: while they enable new forms of connection, they also challenge traditional models of community integration. The article advocates for a critical, reflective, and balanced use of digital platforms to foster meaningful relationships and support democratic coexistence.