Relationship between Social Networks and Loneliness - Literature review Example

Relationship between Social Networks and Loneliness It is a common thinking that social networking may increase a person’s relationships and thus ending up with his loneliness. Many people critically analyze the habit of cyber social networking and thus give negative marks to it. Contrary to this, many people are of the opinion that these social networks are very important for any individual belonging to any age group. There may be different reasons behind their opinion of supporting social networks. Cyber networking may provide an easy and approachable way to connect with many people. After the popularity of social networking sites, physical distance is not a considerable matter for making relationships. Sometimes people may even use such cyber communities in order to promote their businesses. Despite all the advantages and disadvantages, the fact remains the same that social networking is actually affecting a human’s relationships and behaviors. Social networking mainly focuses on maintaining relationships and thus reducing the distance between two individuals. However, the main theme of traditional networking and cyber networking is same i.e. making relationships but the foundation is changes completely. People must have to be aware of many issues while connecting through cyber ways. Privacy issue is the most popular if we talk about the disadvantages of the social networking through internet (Martin & Schumacher 2003). McNeely and Falci (2009) have correlated the concept of loneliness and socializing in their study. There is a widespread opinion that people may get involved in cyber or social networking when they feel loneliness in their routine life. They may have nothing to do in their homes and they may not have any relationship with people residing in their own society and community. In order to resolve this problem they may find a way to connect with people through social networking in the internet world (Falci & McNeely 2009). The social media actually promise to demolish the loneliness of any person belonging to any age group but in actual, it seems no to be happen in the society. The use of social media websites may increase the level of loneliness for the individuals and thus bringing them to a worst position. In addition to this Suman et al, (2002) states in their research survey that a ratio of Americans using social media services. The ratio is almost 40% and still increasing in the past few years. However, contrary to this research another survey measures the attitude of people in a qualitative manner. The people are more lonely and forlorn than ever before. Most of the survey respondents said that they have no best friend still though the number of cyber friends is increasing. We can say that the increasing trend of social cyber networking may also augment the feeling of loneliness among individuals (Suman et al. 2002). In addition to this it is also a matter of fact that people are engaging themselves more with their cyber friends and don’t care the friend or a family member sitting beside them. Both McNeely and Suman (2009 and 20020 agree on the point that people are lonelier than ever before just because of their busy routines with their social networks. They may connect with millions of people daily but still they are unable to enjoy their family member’s company (Suman et al. 2002). The increasing inclination of Facebook and Twitter has involved people more than any other activity. Still if people complain that they are lonely than ever before then it is not the defect in the social network rather people may have to change their usage or connectivity pattern. The fact remains same that people are lonelier as compare to earlier times; though they are maintaining relationships across geographical boundaries with millions of friends. This loneliness may affect the physical and mental health of any individual (Falci & McNeely 2009). Levin and Stokes (1986) states that there can be a difference in the social networking pattern of males and females. In other words, we can say that socializing may depends upon the gender of any person. A male person may consider the level of loneliness differently as compare to the females. It is also observed that a male person may hold stronger social networking relationships as compare to the females. Women may not be able to maintain a strong relationship and thus they can feel loneliness as compare to men (Levin & Stokes, 1986). Here it is important to notice that being lonely and loneliness are two different things and thus we cannot categorize them in a same group. It is even possible that sometimes a person who is not alone and may feel lonely just because of the fact that he is not connecting with the person who is physically present near to him (Fowler et al. 2009). The existence of confidants or the best friend is necessary in human life so that person may not be alone and feel lonely. The increase in the usage of social networking sites has adversely affected the ratio having best friends in anyone’s life. The quality of relationship is also affected. People may socialize through internet or social websites and through traditional social networking ways but they may not care for each other. They may have no feeling or emotional support for any cyber friend. Therefore, we can also say that the quality of relationship is affected badly though the quantity of friends may increase. People may socialize through social media but they may not involve with these relationships. Just because of this less involvement level, people may feel loneliness (Fowler et al. 2009). Stokes (1985) has describes the relation of loneliness and use of social networking through different small variables in the daily routine life of the individuals. According to the author, there can be very small actions in the daily life, which can predict the level of his loneliness despite of the presence of huge social networks. How much a person spends alone when there is no single person around him is one of the indicators. In addition to this, the frequency of alone dinners at home is also an important indicator. Similarly, the number of spare weekend evenings can also be used as the indicator of the loneliness of a person (Stokes, 1985). In short words, we can say that the increased use of social networks is directly related to the level of loneliness i.e. the increase in the usage may also cause increase the feeling of loneliness. Actually, the internet use may enhance cyber connectivity and thus reducing the inclination of face-to-face communication among individuals (Fowler et al. 2009). When people do not want to communicate directly with other, people then it may cause problems. People may not feel confident and the personality development may be affected badly. It is a matter of fact that the cyber friends are not online or available all the time. Only physical existence is important whenever you need any person. Only family members and friends can help you in any case but it is necessary that people may maintain their physical relationships (Suman et al. 2002; Janet & Phyllis 2003). However, the problem of this 21st century is that individuals are not paying any attention to their loved ones rather they are just focusing on the cyber friends. They may have to face the result whenever in the future they need a true friend with whom they discuss their every issue. For maintaining such friendship, it is necessary that today they may focus on the persons who are present near to them and do not waste time on cyber networking. The less use of time on cyber networking may also decrease the level of loneliness in the individuals. Bibliography: Suman. Michael, Coget. Jean & Yamauchi. Yutaka, 2002 ‘The Internet, Social Networks and Loneliness’, IT & Society, Vol. 1, Issue 1, pg 180-201. Fowler. James, Christakis. Nicholas & Cacioppo, John, 2009 ‘Alone in The Crowd: The Structure and Spread of Loneliness in a Large Social Network’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 97, No. 6, pg 977-991. Falci. Christina & McNeely. Clea 2009 ‘Too Many Friends: Social Integration, Network Cohesion and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms’, Social Forces, Vol. 87, No. 4, pg 2031-2061. Martin. Janet & Schumacher. Phyllis, 2003, ‘Loneliness and Social Uses of Internet’, Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 19, pg 659-671. Levin. I. & Stokes, J. 1986 ‘Gender Differences in Predicting Loneliness from Social Network Characteristics’, Journal of personality and Social psychology, Vol. 51, No. 5, page 1069-1074. Stokes, J. 1985 ‘The Relation of Social Network and Individual Difference Variable to Loneliness’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 48, No. 8, page 981-990. Read More