Social Media and Isolation
By: Emma Mahony, MA
Therapist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Is social media making me feel isolated? Or is feeling isolated driving my social media use? The simple answer: it goes both ways.
Social media was created under the pretense of connecting people and their communities, but many users feel the apps can conversely lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. As a society, we’ve never been more clued into aspects of people's lives, but having this information readily available can lead us to feel disconnected from others and ourselves. The glorified portrayal of other’s lifestyles, travels, and careers can lead us to compare our experiences to that version they’re presenting to the world.
We also can see in the palm of our hands, people interacting without us and partaking in activities that we are not a part of, leading us to feel isolated. Ask yourself, “How do I feel after using social media?". If you find yourself feeling poorly after scrolling through your phone, it is probably time to examine your relationship with social media a bit deeper.
Social Media & The Need for Human Connection
On the contrary, we’re living in a time where access to social media is readily available and the nature of our world has shifted due to the pandemic. We’re striving for human connection, and in these moments can be using platforms as a substitute.The layers of social media create a false sense of intimacy. We can observe our friends, family, even strangers' lives, and feel updated and connected to them, even if we haven’t had our own recent (or any) contact with them.
Ask yourself, “When do I go on social media, and for how long”? You may be pulling out your phone often while in the presence of others, potentially distancing yourself from creating meaningful connections. Your social media time usage may also be interfering with time you could be partaking in hobbies or connecting with others in person.
Social media has its strengths, but it is crucial for us to examine our relationship with it if it’s interfering with our relationships and outlook on life.
How Therapy Can Help
Your relationship with social media can feel overwhelming or unmanageable, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. If you’re interested in exploring social media’s presence in your life, and how it is affecting your relationships, our therapists would love to help. Together we can explore patterns and values that may be contributing to your usage, and develop a plan to help you live a more fulfilling life.
Emma Mahony, MA is a therapist practicing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Emma is passionate about helping people through life’s biggest transitions while supporting them in building healthy self esteem. You can read more about Emma here.