The effects of urbanization and social media use on individuals’ perceived social isolation

Abstract

Social networks have become an integral part of modern life, with billions of people around the world using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with others and share information and content. However, there is growing concern that social networks can also contribute to social isolation, particularly for individuals who substitute online for offline in person interactions. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the use of social networks and perceived social isolation and how this relationship varies by demographic and level of urbanization. The results showed that, on average, an individual’s sense of social isolation due to social networks increased for each additional hour spent on social networks and decreased for individuals with a high school education, some college education, and living in a suburban area. In particular, the model suggests that people living in suburban areas attribute lower levels of social isolation to the use of social media compared to those living in urban areas.