author: Serhii Terepyshchyi
Relevance of the research. The article provides a phenomenological analysis of digital loneliness as a specific form of experiencing isolation in the conditions of algorithmic hyper-presence and military reality. The paradox of “digital isolation” is revealed, in which the increase in the number of virtual contacts is accompanied by the erosion of the depth of interpersonal interaction. The mechanisms of upward social comparison, the FOMO phenomenon, and the displacement of bodily-emotional communication by digital practices are analyzed. Special attention is paid to the distinction between active and passive patterns of online interaction and their impact on the structure of the subjective experience of loneliness. Based on the analysis of modern empirical research, the potential of digital hygiene practices as a means of restoring the existential and social integration of the individual is substantiated. The transformation of the communicative space has led to the ambivalent impact of social media on the individual. According to data from the World Health Organization, loneliness is acquiring the features of an epidemic, especially among the most technologically integrated generation (Gen Z). The relevance of the study is reinforced by the need to verify the influence of algorithms and online validation mechanisms on self-perception, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, when social media become the primary means of contact but may simultaneously preserve a state of alienation.
Problem statement. The problem lies in the contradiction between the technological accessibility of communication and the psychological inability of the individual to establish deep emotional contact. Social networks create “weak ties” that do not provide sufficient support. The issue of causality requires clarification: do social networks provoke loneliness, or do they serve as a refuge for those already experiencing it? It is also important to differentiate the impact of various user activity patterns on the genesis of loneliness.
Analysis of recent research and publications. Fundamental works by Manuel Castells and Sherry Turkle (especially Alone Together) point to the illusion of companionship created by technology. Empirical studies (Primack, Hunt) demonstrate a correlation between time spent online and social isolation. Ukrainian scholars (O. Blynova, L. Karamushka) focus on cyberaddiction; however, the differentiation of activity types (passive scrolling versus dialogue) remains insufficiently studied.
Research task. The aim is to analyze the socio-psychological factors that transform social media use into a risk factor for loneliness. The objectives include revealing the role of social comparison, examining the influence of passive content consumption, and determining the role of the FOMO syndrome.
Presentation of the main research material. The theory of social comparison is identified as the central mechanism provoking loneliness. Users compare their real everyday lives with the “idealized” profiles of others, generating feelings of inadequacy. A critical distinction is made between activity types: active use (communication) may reduce loneliness, whereas passive use (scrolling/lurking) consumes cognitive resources and intensifies alienation. The phenomena of FOMO (fear of missing out) and phubbing are analyzed as factors that undermine the quality of offline relationships and trap users in a dopamine-driven anxiety loop. The displacement hypothesis confirms that time spent online replaces face-to-face communication, depriving interaction of its nonverbal component. The results of experiments conducted by the The Happiness Research Institute and the University of Pennsylvania demonstrate that limiting social media use (digital detox or restricting usage to 30 minutes per day) significantly reduces levels of depression and loneliness, facilitating a return to real social contacts.
Conclusions. Social media transform the architecture of relationships. The correlation between their use and loneliness depends on the quality of interaction: passive consumption is a key predictor of isolation. The phenomena of FOMO and phubbing act as catalysts of alienation. Prospects for further research lie in studying the specificity of digital loneliness under wartime conditions and in developing digital hygiene programs.
Keywords: social networks, loneliness, digital loneliness, social isolation, social comparison, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), passive scrolling, phubbing, digital detox, mental health.
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