Understanding Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Digital Society: A Bibliometric Analysis

The fast normalization of remote and hybrid work has exposed a fundamental paradox of digital modernity i.e., greater technological connectivity does not necessarily reduce social isolation. This paradox of digital modernity is that the more hyper-connected we are, the less we are socially connected. Social isolation and loneliness are commonly viewed as individual psychological or medical issues, but this approach commonly neglects the technological and structural aspects of the issue. This research investigates the development of studies on social isolation in technology-mediated contexts through a bibliometric analysis of 1,285 Scopus-indexed documents published between 2015 and 2026. The results indicate a post-pandemic increase in publication activity and a paradigmatic shift from human-centered vulnerability studies to artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Nevertheless, the knowledge structure is still core-periphery, with behavioral and ageing studies being prominent, and organizational and structural studies being underdeveloped. In conclusion, this research contends that social isolation in the digital age is not only a psychological issue but also a socio-technical and structurally mediated phenomenon that is affected by workplace design, digital ecosystems, and global disparities