The Scroll That Feeds Itself: How Passive Social Media Use Creates a Loneliness Loop episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 26, 2026 · 12 MIN

The Scroll That Feeds Itself: How Passive Social Media Use Creates a Loneliness Loop

from The Psychology of People

A nine-year longitudinal study reveals that passive social media scrolling doesn't just correlate with loneliness—it creates a self-reinforcing cycle that's remarkably difficult to break. Researchers tracked nearly 7,000 adults and discovered what they call the 'loneliness loop': lonely people turn to social media to address their feelings, but the scrolling intensifies their isolation. This episode was generated with AI assistance.

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The Scroll That Feeds Itself: How Passive Social Media Use Creates a Loneliness Loop

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This episode was published on April 26, 2026.

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A nine-year longitudinal study reveals that passive social media scrolling doesn't just correlate with loneliness—it creates a self-reinforcing cycle that's remarkably difficult to break. Researchers tracked nearly 7,000 adults and discovered what...

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