Things online social networking can take away: Reminders of social networking sites undermine the desirability of offline socializing and pleasures

Abstract

People are beginning to develop symbiotic relationships with social networking sites (SNSs), which provide users with abundant opportunities for social interaction. We contend that if people perceive SNSs as sources of social connection, the idea of SNSs may reduce the desire to pursue offline social activities and offline pleasures. Experiment 1 demonstrated that priming with SNSs was associated with a weakened desirability of offline social activities and an increased inclination to work alone. Felt relatedness mediated the link between SNS primes and reduced desire to engage in offline social activities. Experiment 2 showed that exposure to SNS primes reduced the desirability of offline socializing and lowered the desire for offline pleasurable experiences as well. Moreover, heavy users were more susceptible to this detrimental effect. We provide the first experimental evidence that the idea of online social networking may modulate users' engagement in offline social activities and offline pleasures. Hence, online social networking may satisfy the need for relatedness but undercut the likelihood of reaping enjoyment from offline social life.

Social Capital Changes After COVID-19 Lockdown Among Youths in China: COVID-19 Impact on Lifestyle Change Survey (COINLICS)

“…During the COVID-19 outbreak, although the lockdown in China was lifted in April, social distancing was still recommended, and parents may adopt the advice to prevent youths away from networking activities (e.g., wedding, club parties, classmate gathering). These measures may affect their social contact especially with their friends and community, as online communication platforms cannot compensate for the emotional demands of face-toface communication and community participation (21). In addition, the decline might also attribute to the adverse mental health status affected by COVID-19, which was inconducive to interpersonal communication.…”

COVID-19 Lockdown and Social Capital Changes Among Youths in China

“…Moreover, previous studies reported the increased mental health issues among youths during COVID-19 lockdown, [23][24][25] which suggested that online communication may not fully compensate for the emotional demands of face-to-face communication and community participation. 26 It is therefore necessary to pay attention to mental health and promote interpersonal communications among youths during national disasters or crises.…”

Roles of Psychosocial Factors on the Association Between Online Social Networking Use Intensity and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents: Prospective Cohort Study

“…While online social networking sites provide convenient platforms for establishing communication, contacts, and relationships among adolescents [ 65 ], they might simultaneously deprive adolescents of skills, time allocation, and experiences related to effective direct offline social interactions, resulting in social nonconfidence. Online social networking use does not involve the use of social and nonverbal cues; it may also weaken individuals’ desire for involvement in offline social activities and pleasure seeking [ 66 ]. Furthermore, social nonconfidence is potentially associated with isolation and other risk factors for depression, which might mediate the association between △SFUI (or △EFUI) and depression.…”