Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescents: The Positives and the Potential Pitfalls

Abstract

As social media use is rising among adolescents, the issue of whether this use leads to positive or negative outcomes warrants greater understanding. This article critically reviews the literature related to this important topic. Specifically, we examine how social media use affects social connectedness in terms of three elements of adolescent development: sense of belonging, psychosocial wellbeing, and identity development and processes. Mixed findings are reported regarding the role that social media plays in fostering social connectedness, which suggests that young people may experience both positive and negative psychological outcomes. As a result, this article argues that online tools create a paradox for social connectedness. On one hand, they elevate the ease in which individuals may form and create online groups and communities, but on the other, they can create a source of alienation and ostracism. This article contributes to ongoing discourse in the area of educational and developmental psychology, and has implications for researchers and practitioners working with adolescents.

How Social Are Social Media? A Review of Online Social Behaviour and Connectedness

“…While the studies presented in this article were not exhaustive, this brief overview of the relation between social connectedness and social media use supports previous research (e.g., Ahn & Shin, 2013;Allen et al, 2014;Grieve et al, 2013;Sheldon et al, 2011) and raises new questions for theory and application. Considering that frequent social media use is associated with both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes in correlational research, designs that provide more definitive and systematic depictions of these relationships also may be helpful.…”

“…However, the same studies note that social media use can also undermine social connectedness. These mixed results imply that the outcomes associated with social media use can vary in systematic ways and raise the question of whether the benefits outweigh the potential for harm (Allen et al, 2014). The current article contributes to this growing and important line of work by presenting a brief narrative literature review of studies examining the interplay between social connectedness and social media use.…”

“…This trend has, no doubt, changed the dynamics of social interaction and may have implications for how the need for social connectedness is established, maintained, or thwarted. Researchers have thus begun to critically examine the relationship between social media use and social connectedness (Ahn & Shin, 2013;Allen, Ryan, Gray, McInerney, & Waters, 2014;Grieve, Indian, Witteveen, Tolan, & Marrington, 2013;Sheldon, Abad, & Hinsch, 2011).…”

The relationship between addictive use of social media, narcissism, and self-esteem: Findings from a large national survey

“…Individuals visit social media sites to engage in many different types of entertainment and social activity including playing games, socializing, passing time, communicating, and posting pictures (Allen, Ryan, Gray, Mclnerney, & Waters, 2014;Ryan, Chester, Reece, & Xenos, 2014).…”

Technological Addictions and Social Connectedness: Predictor Effect of Internet Addiction, Social Media Addiction, Digital Game Addiction and Smartphone Addiction on Social Connectedness

“…In this context, it is possible to say that communication technologies in particular have a critical importance in the development and maintenance of social connectedness. Hence, Chayko (58) (59). Intense use of technology restricts the individual's true social environment interactions and interpersonal relations which cause the individual to move away from the real social environment.…”