Summer Biggs

Media Communication

Professor Innes Mitchell

2 May 2012

Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?

With over 845 million users, $3.7 billion in revenue last year alone, and 1 trillion page

views a month, Facebook has successfully invaded our lives and altered our culture (Marche). It

allows us to share pictures, update people on our lives, say where we are, who we’re with,

interact with friends and relatives, have hundreds or thousands of “friends,” and most

importantly lets us stay continuously connected. But why is Facebook so popular? In his article

in the Atlantic, Stephen Marche, says that Facebook arrived smack in the middle of our society’s

increase in loneliness. When we meet fewer people, gather less, and have weaker bonds it shows

evidence that loneliness is becoming an epidemic. Is the simultaneous rise in loneliness and

Facebook’s influence a coincidence or is one causing the other? The underlying question that

has raised debate is does Facebook really make us lonely?

SIDE A-YES

Along with the loneliness effects, scholars mention depression and sadness as negative

byproducts of Facebook. Daniel Gulati from the Harvard Business Review outlines three

reasons why Facebook makes us miserable. These three points can serve as the main arguments

given by multiple scholars in this area of study. Facebook is making us lonely and also

miserable because it creates a den of comparison, it fragments our time, and it causes a decline of

close relationships (Gulati).

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1.) Den of Comparison

As we upload pictures, post a status, or write on someone’s wall, we are doing so because

it is public. The objective is for people to see it and to comment or write back. Increasingly,

Facebook has created new ways to give feedback. An example would be the “like” button. This

was a very successful feature as soon as it was introduced. It allows for people to approve of

something efficiently, a one-click communication, with out the use of words or any wasted time.

The recent transformation of profiles to timelines is another change Facebook has made to make

the viewing and following of other people’s lives easier. These are the results of something

called “hypersharing” which Gulati describes as threatening to our happiness. “As I went about

my research, it became clear that behind all the liking, commenting, sharing, and posting, there

were strong hints of jealousy, anxiety, and in one case, depression” (Gulati).

Because we can control our own image on Facebook, only the positive announcements

and posts are shown. It is a world where negative aspects can be avoided, which brings us

farther from reality. “Everybody else looks so happy on Facebook, with so many friends, that

our own social networks feel emptier than ever in comparison” (Marche). But being happy all

the time, hiding the less than perfect parts of life while promoting this sort of superficial

character, is exhausting. It is a form of compensation that in its worse case leads to “Facebook

depression,” as mentioned in Mike Flacy’s report in Digital Trends. Flacy discusses the study

conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which found that kids and teenagers can

develop Facebook Depression when being overwhelmed by positive statuses and photos of

happy friends. Before Facebook, actual depression had to do with real relationships and real-life

situations. This introduction to a depression that is based on interactions that occur online proves

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the argument that Facebook is making feel more isolated despite the deep connection, which

ironically is the cause.

2.) Fragmentation of Time

The second reason Facebook is making us lonely is because of its effect on time and

people’s presence. Facebook’s breadth and depth in our society has over time, created new

behaviors. People have become so addicted to Facebook that they log in and check new updates

multiple times a day, sometimes more than once an hour. In traffic, in class, at work, and just

when people are bored, is when they often check Facebook. Some individuals use it to kill time

when they are alone, waiting somewhere by themselves. It just shows how people don’t want to

be alone or don’t know how. Daniel Gulati discusses this recent trend by first explaining the

cause. “Not surprisingly, Facebook’s ‘horizontal strategy’ encourages users to log in more

frequently from different devices” (Gulati). Computers, smart phones, and iPads are being used

more and more to access Facebook practically everywhere. This means that people are less

present wherever they are. Distracted by another world, friends, family and coworkers can be in

the same room, but not fully be together. This is a perfect example of the loneliness effect. You

may be in a room full of friends, and simultaneously on a network full of friends, but you are not

fully present in either.

Horizontal strategy goes hand in hand with Gulati’s next finding, switching costs. This

“constant tabbing between real-life tasks and Facebook” results in “the loss in productivity

associated with changing from one task to another” (Gulati). Dr. Srikumar Rao argues that

constant distractions, like Facebook, result in low-quality work. This in turn, results in low self-

esteem, further impacting negative feelings brought by Facebook (Gulati).

3.) Decline of Close Relationships

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The final, and most direct reason Facebook makes us lonely is due to the way it replaces

relationships. The use of hypersharing, the ease of subscribing to friends’ posts, the instant

communication, and the public format all replace aspects in real relationships. Hypersharing

might replace meeting one of your friends to show her your pictures from a vacation; they would

most likely already be uploaded. Being subscribed to your family on Facebook might reduce the

need to call your parents from college to tell them about your day. Facebook chat might be

quicker and easier than meeting in person, or even emailing, which still somehow seems more

personal. And because all of this information about yourself and your friends on Facebook is

public, announcements or big events are disclosed differently. An example would be finding out

solely through Facebook that your best friend is in a relationship. Gulati offers his opinion

saying, “As Facebook continues to add new features to help us connect more efficiently online,

the battle to maintain off-line relationships will become even more difficult, which will impact

their overall quality.” He believes that Facebook doesn’t simply accommodate real relationships

anymore. Every time we choose Facebook interaction over actual communication, people lose

chances to connect more deeply, and that is something we do not want to lose (Gulati).

Returning back to the original question in the Atlantic piece, Stephen Marche makes the

claim that Americans are more solitary than ever before. “According to a major study by a

leading scholar of the subject, roughly 20 percent of Americans—about 60 million people—are

unhappy with their lives because of loneliness” (Marche). He mentions lack of personal

confidants and therefore the need for professional carers, the history and the drive for isolation,

and technology’s recent effects. But what really explains correlation between Facebook and

loneliness is when Marche discusses the research and studies of Moira Burke, a graduate student

at the Human-Computer Institute at Carnegie Mellon. She found that non –personalized use of

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Facebook leads to feelings of disconnectedness. The two main methods of this are “passive

consumption” and “broadcasting.” Passive consumption involves checking friend’s updates,

while broadcasting is posting your own updates. “It’s a lonely business, wandering the

labyrinths of our friends’ and pseudo-friends’ projected identities, trying to figure out what part

of ourselves we ought to project, who will listen, and what they will hear” (Marche). A lot of

this Facebook broadcasting has to do with people’s egos. It often becomes once again, a

compensation method to promote yourself in a desired way, and see others in their own desired

way. The lack of reality, and the “distance with intimacy,” as Marche calls it, is what makes

Facebook so attractive, but also what may be causing this widespread loneliness.

Desired Outcomes:

In his article from the Harvard Business Review, Daniel Gulati offers possible plans of

action in order to avoid harmful effects of Facebook. Reasonably, he starts off by recognizing

that simply quitting Facebook is unrealistic. It is a huge part of our lives and is beginning to

represent a large portion of the population. Gulati suggests changing usage patterns and working

to regain real relationships. Things like setting a block of time to use Facebook, instead of

checking it many times throughout the day and limiting your friends list will help lessen its

influence (Gulati).

SIDE B- NO

On the opposing side, scholars who believe that no, Facebook does not make us lonely,

focus mainly on the lack of correlation between Facebook and loneliness. They argue that

Facebook is not the cause, unlike what Gulati and Marche propose. They say that articles like

the Atlantic come from people who want a simpler and happier time, but do not realize that has

passed (Klinenberg). They are skeptical about the mixed information being provided and point

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out the flaws of their counterparts. Facebook does not make us lonely because of three reasons:

it inspires more communication, loneliness isn’t just a recent trend, and Facebook is not

necessarily a cause.

1.) More Communication

Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology, Public Policy, and Media at New York

University, wrote an article in Slate magazine wanting to set the record straight about Facebook

and loneliness in rebuttal to Marche’s claims. His main goals were to one, point out the flaws

that Marche had in research, history, and overall evidence; and two, to promote his own ideas.

Klinenberg argues that Facebook is not responsible for isolation or less communication just by

definition of what Facebook is. Facebook is a tool to find pre-existing friends and connect with

them. It allows for more communication in multiple ways with friends, family, and especially

long distance relationships. He argues that Facebook friends cannot purely be surrogates, that

they are, in fact, supplements. “Neither Cacioppo nor others who do research on loneliness

believe that people expect online contacts to ‘make up completely for the absence of the real

thing’” (Klinenberg). The author also goes to say that if America is truly more isolated than it

has ever been, then it is a result of “frayed ties” rather than our loneliness.

Another scholar who agrees with Klinenberg is Claude Fischer, professor of Sociology at

UC Berkeley. His article, “The Loneliness Scare: Isolation Isn’t a Growing Problem” in the

Boston Review, also argues the same views. Fischer claims that people use the Internet “to

increase the volume of their meaningful social contacts.” It allows them to strengthen current

relationships. An interesting point that the author makes is that Internet dating is very helpful for

lonely Americans who have a hard time finding partners. It is especially useful with gays and

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older women (Fischer). These “technologies of sociability” help connect everyone and make

possible stronger relationships that would otherwise be lost.

2.) Loneliness Isn’t Just a Recent Trend

In addition to his theory on Internet communication, Fischer has opinions about the so-

called loneliness epidemic as well. As opposed to Marche, he asserts that there is no such thing.

Americans have been under the label of loneliness for decades. At the beginning of the century

there was loneliness of American farmers, then later around the 1950’s, books like Man Alone:

Alienation in Modern Society became bestsellers. “Americans have either been getting lonelier

since time immemorial or worrying about it since then” (Fischer). Change, itself, has brought

upon these feelings of isolation. If this is true, then Facebook does not have a bad or negative

function in society. There have been and will be periods of rising and falling social connection,

but Fischer suggests that loneliness is not a growing problem. “Moreover, the loneliness that

should worry us is not generated by a teen’s Facebook humiliation…It is of the old man whose

wife and best friends have died…There’s nothing new or headline-worthy about their loneliness,

but it is real and important” (Fischer).

3. Facebook is Not Necessarily a Cause

In her article “Facebook Isn’t Making Us Lonely, After All,” writer Kate Knibbs

describes the relationship and connection that Facebook and loneliness have with each other.

She argues that yes, there is evidence that teens who use Facebook are lonely, but that does not

prove that Facebook is the ultimate cause, and not just a symptom. The link between people

being on their mobile phones more and more, and people feeling loneliness are less linked than

researchers say (Knibbs). People were already lonely before Facebook. Because of its’ personal

but impersonal, connected but not connected, and distant but accessible nature, Facebook critics

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have always been skeptical. And because of its growth and permeation into almost every aspect

of society, it is an easy target for blame. Knibbs brings up an interesting point, saying that just as

Facebook may not connect people like real life interaction, neither does working, video games,

music, or sitting in traffic. “When people spend all their time on Facebook and texting at the

expense of engaging in real-life diagogue, it does add to their feeling of isolation. But it does not

create it” (Knibbs). When as a society we are so wrapped up in modern living, running around

busy with our technology, at least this technology encourages communication and connection. It

may not be as “good” as face-to-face interaction, but holds the same idea.

Desired Outcomes:

These three researchers, Klinenberg, Fischer, and Knibbs, are advocating the notion that

Facebook does not make us lonely. The desired outcome they would like to have in writing

these articles is for people first, not to be worried about a loneliness epidemic. They are counter

arguing people’s quickness to assume there is a major problem, and also that the sole source of

the problem is Facebook. In a way, they are defending Facebook as a necessary means of

communication this day in age. They would like people to continue to use Facebook, use mobile

devices, and continue to build strong connections. Klinenberg requests specifically that instead

of everyone focusing on the loneliness of teenagers through Facebook, for people to notice other

kinds of loneliness, ones that have existed long before social networks.

MY ASSESSMENT:

After researching and reading related articles, I believe that “loneliness” was the wrong

word to have this entire study based on. I felt at times, the writers were stretching possible

evidence too far, trying to fit the word lonely, but were unsuccessful. Instead, words like sad,

miserable and depressed were used, which took away from the central chosen idea of loneliness.

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Most of the main arguments were indirect and contained irrelevant information. Therefore, I do

not believe that Facebook is necessarily making us lonely. However, I do believe that it is

making us more competitive and narcissistic.

As being a Facebook user myself, I cannot think of any Facebook specific functions that

would directly make someone feel lonely. All the Facebook activity is based on positives. For

example, you can “like” pictures and posts, but there is no dislike. You can create groups and

events to be a part of. Facebook, in my opinion, does a good job of emphasizing connecting with

people, supporting people, allowing for feedback, and including people. I do understand,

however, that loneliness may come from the absence of these things. But a better way to

describe that is competitiveness. People post and share things on Facebook for other people to

see, and to receive feedback. The potential dark side of comments and likes is that it has taught

us to perceive them as ego boosts. For example, if someone gets over fifteen likes on a picture,

naturally they will feel flattered and good about themselves. Facebook allows you to put

yourself out there, to broadcast a little bit of who you are.

However, this is where narcissism becomes an issue. Results of the studies by Buffardi,

Campbell, and Mehdizadeh in 2010 say that people with high levels of narcissism engage in

frequent use of Facebook (Ryan and Xenos). “According to the study, this trend is attributable to

the fact that Facebook encourages users to engage in self-promoting and superficial behaviors,

such as posting photos and writing status updates” (Ryan and Xenos). People will put up

pictures of themselves that has been edited, cropped, and photo shopped because it will give

them the most attention, and will display them in the best way. Facebook image is now just as

important, if not more important, than your real life image. So I think that the more prominent

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issue that Facebook creates, has to do with the effects too much Facebook interaction, as

opposed to not enough.

CONCLUSION:

Although the Facebook world might prove to be lonely, it is a growing, highly powerful

commodity. It is something people, services, groups, and companies have started to take

advantage of. Not only is it a social media website, but it is a public relations, advertising, and

networking hub. “Around 2.5 million websites have integrated with Facebook” (Manago,

Taylor, and Greenfield 377). In other words, it isn’t going anywhere by any means. As much as

it is fun, social, lonely, competitive, narcissistic, or whatever it may be, it is a form of

entertainment, a form of business, and a form of society. Facebook adapts to and reflects what is

important in our culture. As we go through periods of growing and lessening social connection,

it will be interesting to see where Facebook goes along with it.

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Works Cited

Fischer, Claude S. "The Lonliness Scare: Isolation Isn't a Growing Problem." Boston Review. 23

Apr 2012: n. page. Web. 2 May. 2012.

<http://www.bostonreview.net/BR37.3/claude_s_fischer_loneliness_facebook.php>.

Flacy, Mike. "Study: Why Facebook is Making People Sad." Digital Trends. N.p., 22/Jan/2012.

Web. 2 May 2012. <http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/study-why-facebook-is-

making-people-sad/>.

Gulati, Daniel. "Facebook Is Making Us Miserable." Harvard Business Review. 09 Dec 2011: n.

page. Web. 2 May. 2012.

<http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/12/facebook_is_making_us_miserabl.html>.

Klinenberg, Eric. "Facebook Isn't Making Us Lonely." Slate. 19 Apr 2012: n. page. Web. 2 May.

2012.<http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2012/04/is_facebook_making_us_lo

nely_no_the_atlantic_cover_story_is_wrong_.2.html.>

Knibbs, Kate. "Facebook Isn't Making Us Lonely, After All." Mobiledia. N.p., 26/Apr/2012.

Web. 2 May 2012. <http://www.mobiledia.com/news/139464.html>.

Manago, Adriana M., Tamara Taylor, and Patricia M. Greenfield. "Me And My 400 Friends: The

Anatomy Of College Students' Facebook Networks, Their Communication Patterns, And

Well-Being." Developmental Psychology 48.2 (2012): 369-380. PsycARTICLES. Web. 1

May 2012.

Marche, Stephen. "Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?." Atlantic. 05 2012: n. page. Web. 2 May.

2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/is-facebook-making-us-

lonely/8930/>.

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Ryan, Tracii, and Sophia Xenos. "Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship

between the Big Five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness, and Facebook usage." SciVerse.

27.5 (2011): 1658-1664. Web. 2 May. 2012.

<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563211000379>.

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