Hours Spent on Social Media and Loneliness: A Cross-Sectional Study About the Influence of Romantic Relationships and Social Media Platforms

The influence of factors, such as the number of social media platforms used, the type of platform, and romantic relationship status and length, on the association between hours on social media and experienced loneliness remains underexplored, despite extensive research on time spent on social media alone. To address this gap, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 260 participants. Results revealed no significant association between loneliness and hours spent on social media, with no significant moderation effects. A new categorisation of social media platforms based on their primary intent of use is proposed. Using communication-focused social media platforms and being in a romantic relationship significantly lowered loneliness when using social media up to three hours daily. Future research should further investigate social media use patterns and related factors.