New research from OSU says social media does not stop loneliness

(OCTOBER 3, 2025) A new study from Oregon State University shows that social media does not stop loneliness. Apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook may even make people feel more lonely.

The study looked at 1,500 adults in the U.S., ages 30–70. People who used social media many times a day, or for many hours, were more likely to feel lonely. This was true for both young and older adults.

Professor Brian Primack said: “People who used social media the most were more than twice as likely to feel lonely as people who used it the least.”

Loneliness is bad for health. Doctors say loneliness can hurt the heart, the mind, and cause stress. The U.S. Surgeon General said that being lonely can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes every day.

About half of adults in the U.S. feel lonely. The problem became worse during COVID-19.

Researchers are not sure if social media causes loneliness, or if lonely people use social media more. But they know that social media does not fix loneliness.