More and more evidence suggest that as we connect online with people, share photos and likes in reality,  we have become disconnected socially and even causing some users to become lonely

Researchers chosen to focus on Facebook because it is by far the most popular online social media site, with people using it to share personal information, meet people and develop friendships, according to the study. The use of Facebook -- at home and at work -- accounts for 54 percent of users' time online globally and 62 percent of their time in the United States.

Whether the impact of all that "connectedness" is helping or harming human interactions is an ongoing topic in the media as well as in the scholarly community, Song says. For several decades, researchers have been looking at whether Internet use, in general, is psychologically beneficial or detrimental.

On this question, research studies offered a clearer answer. "We found that loneliness caused Facebook use rather than the other way around," Song says.

Non-lonely people use Facebook, but they also maintain rich personal communications and relationships without it, according to Song. "Compared to non-lonely people, lonely people spend more time on Facebook. Lonely individuals who are shy or have low social support may turn to Facebook to compensate for their lack of social skills and/or social networks in face-to-face settings," according to the study' findings.

 

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