The increasing centrality of digital communication tools in everyday life is fundamentally transforming the nature of human relationships. A doctoral study conducted within the Üsküdar University Graduate School of Social Sciences, New Media and Communication PhD Program reveals that in the digital age, loneliness has evolved from a purely individual emotion into a multilayered social phenomenon marked by clear generational differences.
While members of Generation X and Generation Y tend to associate loneliness with feelings of sadness, exclusion, and being misunderstood, Generation Z is more likely to interpret loneliness as an opportunity for self-discovery and personal development.
beyond an individual experience to become a global social issue. The doctoral research highlights that loneliness in the digital era manifests differently across generations, reflecting shifts in communication practices and social expectations.
The dissertation, authored by Yağmur Tanrıverdi under the supervision of Prof. Gül Esra Atalay, Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Üsküdar University, demonstrates that social media use has altered the quality of interpersonal relationships. This transformation, the study finds, contributes to the emergence of a social structure increasingly composed of lonely individuals.
The research was conducted using qualitative methods, drawing on in-depth interviews with active social media users from Generations X, Y, and Z. The transformation of social relationships and experiences of loneliness in the digital age were analyzed through thematic analysis using the MAXQDA software, while generational differences in emotional expression were examined with the LIWC-22 tool.
Superficial connections replace meaningful relationships
Findings indicate that although social media platforms accelerate communication, they also weaken relational depth. Participants from Generation X, in particular, emphasized that relationships once built on effort and continuity have been replaced by superficial and temporary connections. Many noted that crowded friend lists on social media fail to provide genuine emotional closeness, thereby intensifying digital loneliness.
Does “seeing” online mean truly meeting?
The study also shows that constant awareness of others’ lives through social media reduces the perceived need for face-to-face interaction. According to X and Y generation participants, social media diminishes the sense of curiosity that sustains real-life relationships, creating the illusion that people are already “in touch.” This perception contributes to what the research defines as a growing experience of “being alone together” in the digital age.
Comparison culture deepens loneliness
Another prominent finding concerns the culture of comparison fostered by social media. Especially among Y and Z generations, exposure to content showcasing others’ “happiest and most perfect moments” can intensify feelings of inadequacy, unhappiness, and loneliness. The recurring question, “Everyone else is together, why am I alone?” may lead individuals toward social withdrawal and physical isolation.
Digital interactions can trigger feelings of worthlessness
Generation Z participants reported that delayed or unanswered messages often make them feel undervalued and isolated. The absence of gestures and facial expressions in digital communication environments increases the risk of misunderstanding and emotional vulnerability.
A structural, not individual, problem
Overall, the study concludes that loneliness in the digital age is not merely an individual issue, but a structural social problem shaped by communication practices and platform cultures. These findings suggest the need to rethink digital communication not in terms of quantity, but quality, emphasizing meaningful connection over constant interaction.