UC study: Social media tied to college student loneliness
Study shows heavy social media use is associated with higher odds of loneliness, feeling isolated
More than half of U.S. college students report feeling lonely, and heavy social media use may worsen the problem, according to a national study conducted at the University of Cincinnati.
The study, published in the Journal of American College Health, analyzed data from nearly 65,000 students ages 18 to 24 at more than 120 colleges. Students who used social media at least 16 hours a week — averaging more than two hours a day — had significantly higher odds of reporting loneliness.
These results underscore how widespread loneliness is among college students.
Ashley Merianos, UC School of Human Services Professor
“We know that people who are lonely are more likely to become depressed and more likely to die early,” said Madelyn Hill, now an assistant professor at Ohio University, who led the study while completing her doctoral work in UC’s School of Human Services in spring 2025.
“Young adulthood is full of major transitions, and it’s vital that colleges and universities help students build real connections with others,” Hill said.
Among the key findings:
- 54% of students reported loneliness.
- Students in hybrid courses were less lonely than those fully in person, possibly due to staying connected with previous friends.
- Students in fraternities or sororities were among the least lonely.
- Students living at home reported more loneliness than those living on campus.
About 13% of respondents used social media excessively. The more time they spent online, the more likely they were to report loneliness — up to a 38% increase among those on social platforms 30 hours a week or more.
“These results underscore how widespread loneliness is among college students and highlight that excessive social media use may be replacing the meaningful interactions that protect their mental health,” said Hill’s mentor and co-author, Ashley Merianos, a professor of human services at UC. “A key public health strategy is to strengthen social connection and help students build supportive relationships offline.”
Hill said colleges should educate students about the mental health effects of heavy social media use and encourage them to set limits.
“Helping students understand how their screen time affects their well-being may motivate them to cut back,” Hill said. “Institutions can also do more to bring students together at campus events.”
Featured image at top: A new UC study found that social media exacerbated feelings of loneliness among college students. Photo/Constantinis/iStockPhoto
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