Social media may offer little substitute for in-person emotional support

Oregon State University says two studies drew on a 2023 survey of 1,512 U.S. adults ages 30 to 70. In one, only real-life emotional support remained significantly associated with loneliness when researchers considered it alongside social-media support. The other found an association between social media use within 30 minutes of waking and depression, even after accounting for total social media use and demographics. Researchers say they cannot tell whether early use contributes to depression, depression leads to early use, or both.