Doomscrolling or connecting? Study reveals social media's complex effect on loneliness

Phys · Apr 17, 2026 · 530 words · By Joe Stafford

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What to know about Doomscrolling or connecting? Study reveals social media's complex effect on loneliness

New research from The University of Manchester indicates that the effect of social media on loneliness is complex, suggesting that usage patterns are more critical than mere screen time. The study differentiates between meaningful, active engagement, which can reduce loneliness, and passive consumption, which is linked to increased isolation. Researchers emphasize the need for more longitudinal studies to establish clear cause-and-effect relationships.

Propaganda risk 10%

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Study reveals social media's complex effect on loneliness Lisa Lock scientific editor Andrew Zinin lead editor Whether social media connects us or leaves us feeling isolated depends on how we use it, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

Why it matters

A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, which challenges simple assumptions about screen time and well-being.

Common ground

Rebecca Nowland has assessed the latest global evidence on the relationship between social media and loneliness.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Doomscrolling or connecting? Study reveals social media's complex effect on loneliness?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that In contrast, those using social media to escape difficult feelings or social situations may see the opposite effect?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-doomscrolling-reveals-social-media-complex.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

schedule Pending 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “In contrast, those using social media to escape difficult feelings or social situations may see the opposite effect.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results suggest that using social media to avoid difficult feelings can be associated with negative outcomes, although the evidence is nuanced, the pattern of negative correlation with avoidance is present.

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web search NEUTRAL — For participants who reported higher levels of maintaining contact motives for social media use (compared to avoiding difficult feelings), relatively weak, but statistically significant associations w…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9817115/

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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 26, 2025 · Social media use can also lead to increased feelings of loneliness and social anxiety. Prioritize active use on social media, set boundaries, and focus on in-person connections to avoid…
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/no-more-fomo/202501/…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 1, 2021 · Social media use (SMU) has become highly prevalent in modern society, especially among young adults. Research has examined how SMU affects well-being, with some findings suggesting that …
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S245195882…

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Claim 2: “The research found that people who already have strong social networks are more likely to gain positive experiences online, including support and a sense of belonging.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that social networks can provide social support and a sense of belonging, especially for those who already have existing connections or use platforms for support.

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web search NEUTRAL — Understanding how individuals form and maintain strong social networks has emerged as a significant public health priority as a result of the increased focus on the epidemic of loneliness and the myri…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089662732…

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web search NEUTRAL — Social support and connection are good for us. Can we find that sense of belongingness we crave online as well as in person?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-fando…

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web search NEUTRAL — Existing work on the effects of social network sites (SNS) on well-being has often stressed that SNS can help people gain social support from their online networks, which positively affects their well…
https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2017-39936-002.html

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Claim 3: “Supportive comments and meaningful exchanges can reduce loneliness, while being ignored, excluded or exposed to negative interactions can increase it.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “Social media can strengthen social connections when it is used to interact meaningfully—such as messaging friends, sharing experiences or receiving supportive responses.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results discuss the positive aspects of social media use, such as its role in maintaining friendships and providing opportunities for connectivity, which aligns with the claim of strengthening connections through meaningful interaction.

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web search NEUTRAL — The last decade has seen a growing interest in understanding what role social media play in adolescent experiences, including friendship relationships. However, little is known about the associations …
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9465130/

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web search NEUTRAL — Understanding the effects of social media on close relationships is a puzzling challenge. Close relationships are defined by 'strong, frequent, and diverse interdependence that lasts over a considerab…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X2…

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web search NEUTRAL — The proliferation of social media platforms has fundamentally reshaped interpersonal communication, transforming how we initiate, cultivate, and maintain friendships in the 21st century. While offerin…
https://www.clrn.org/how-does-social-media-affect-friendship…

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Claim 5: “Much of the evidence is based on snapshots in time rather than long-term studies, making it difficult to determine cause and effect.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “However, simply scrolling through content without engaging—often referred to as "passive use"—is consistently linked to higher levels of loneliness.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results specifically contrast active and passive use, with multiple sources linking passive use (scrolling) to increased loneliness, while active engagement is treated differently.

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web search NEUTRAL — The active social media use (ASMU) and passive social media use (PSMU) hypotheses suggest the impact of social media on perceived loneliness depends on how it is used. However, empirical studies exami…
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672241295870

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web search NEUTRAL — A JRC study reveals passive social media use correlates to loneliness, while active engagement does not.
https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-upda…

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web search NEUTRAL — Abstract The relationships between active (e.g., creating content) and passive (e.g., scrolling) social media (SM) use (SMU) and mental health, wellbeing, and social support outcomes have received sig…
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/29/1/zmad055/7595758

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Claim 7: “Features that encourage direct interaction—such as private messaging or sharing images—can help create a stronger sense of connection.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the provided sources (web search, Wikipedia, cross-references) to support or refute this specific claim regarding private messaging or sharing images.

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Claim 8: “Whether social media connects us or leaves us feeling isolated depends on how we use it, according to new research from The University of Manchester.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results cite the finding from The University of Manchester that the effect of social media on loneliness depends on usage patterns. This is reported across different search snippets, indicating corroboration from multiple sources referencing the same study.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Manchester Metropolitan University is a public university in Manchester, England. The university's predecessor, Manchester Polytechnic, gained university status in 1992. The university has 44,000 stud…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Metropolitan_Univer…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester City Centre on Oxford Road. The university is considered a red brick univers…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manchester

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Victoria University of Manchester, usually referred to as simply the University of Manchester, was a university in Manchester, England. It was founded in 1851 as Owens College. In 1880, the colleg…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_University_of_Manches…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, which challenges simple assumptions about screen time and well-being.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results indicate that global evidence suggests online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, challenging simple assumptions about screen time. This finding is supported by multiple search results discussing the complexity of the relationship.

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web search NEUTRAL — A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, which challenges simple assumptions about screen time and wellbeing. Key findings. Social…
https://www.miragenews.com/research-unveils-social-medias-co…

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web search NEUTRAL — Screen time has become synonymous with bad news, blamed for rises in depression in young people, behavioural problems and sleep deprivation. The renowned neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield went …
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d0l40v551o

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web search NEUTRAL — Both passive (browsing) and active (posting, engaging) social media use are linked to increased loneliness, challenging assumptions about online interaction benefits.
https://www.medindia.net/news/social-media-and-loneliness-a-…

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Claim 10: “Rebecca Nowland, Understanding the association between loneliness and social media: a revised theoretical model, Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2026.101653”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “Those who feel isolated offline, however, may struggle to achieve the same benefits—even if they use social media frequently.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results suggest that pre-existing offline isolation or specific motives for use (like relationship maintenance) can complicate the benefits derived from frequent social media use.

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web search NEUTRAL — Conversely, for participants in Motive profile groups 2 and 3, who were more inclined to use social media for the purpose of staying in contact with people and use it as a means of 'relationship maint…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9817115/

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web search NEUTRAL — Although social media may increase opportunities for social connectedness, it may also create an environment brimming with social comparisons that may exacerbate experiences of social isolation and lo…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S245195882…

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web search NEUTRAL — Social media has become an integral part of modern communication, with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram being widely used by various demographics. While social media can facilitate conn…
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-…

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Claim 12: “By contrast, platforms or features focused on broadcasting or passive consumption offer fewer emotional benefits.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the provided sources (web search, Wikipedia, cross-references) to support or refute this specific claim regarding broadcasting or passive consumption features.

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Claim 13: “People who go online to connect with others may experience reduced loneliness.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results suggest that using social media with the intent to connect can lead to positive outcomes, including increased social capital and reduced loneliness.

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web search NEUTRAL — For participants with higher or the same ratings on using social media to avoid difficult feelings (compared with their ratings on using social media to maintain contact), there was no significant ass…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9817115/

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web search NEUTRAL — It appears that although more socially anxious and lonely individuals may wish for online social connection, they may exhibit inhibited behavior, engage in maladaptive cognitive patterns such as rumin…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S245195882…

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web search NEUTRAL — The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experie…
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-relations…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.