Investigating the relationships of different social media platform use with life satisfaction mediated by loneliness: a cross-sectional study

Objective Existing research rarely distinguishes between different social media platforms, with little investigation into how different platforms relate to psychological wellbeing or how loneliness mediates these relationships. This study investigated the direct and indirect relationships between open network (ONSM) and closed network social media (CNSM) and life satisfaction among young adults with loneliness as a mediator.Method Survey data from 1,134 Japanese young adults aged 18–29, including the measures of life satisfaction, loneliness and frequencies of ONSM and CNSM use, were analysed via path-analysis using structural equation modelling to assess direct and indirect relationships between each social media type and life satisfaction, with loneliness as a mediator and demographic variables controlled.Results ONSM demonstrated a small but significant negative direct relationship with life satisfaction and a small negative indirect relationship mediated by higher loneliness. In contrast, CNSM showed no direct relationship with life satisfaction but a small positive indirect relationship mediated by lower loneliness.Conclusions The present study provides preliminary evidence that lower ONSM engagement and higher CNSM engagement may be related to higher psychological wellbeing, with loneliness identified as a mediator. These insights have practical relevance for promoting healthy social media use. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causation.