Abstract :
The pervasive impact of technology on social connectivity has reshaped loneliness, transforming it into a significant psychological challenge within the Argentinean population. Unlike traditional views of loneliness associated solely with physical isolation, modern loneliness often arises from unfulfilled emotional needs that persist despite frequent virtual interactions. Social media platforms, while expanding social networks and connecting individuals across distances, often fail to provide the emotional depth necessary to alleviate feelings of loneliness. Consequently, individuals may experience paradoxical feelings of disconnection even as they engage actively online. This experience is further intensified by the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), a psychological phenomenon that social media amplifies by presenting curated glimpses of others’ lives, heightening users’ anxieties about missing rewarding experiences. FoMO has been observed across various age groups, contributing to an increased drive to stay constantly connected yet often exacerbating loneliness. Digital nomadism, a lifestyle characterized by freedom and mobility, introduces additional loneliness challenges through its transient social structures and dependence on superficial connections. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted these issues, as physical isolation became unavoidable and reliance on digital communication increased. In response, resilience-building practices, including humor, spirituality, reading, and collective solidarity, emerged as crucial tools for individuals—particularly older adults—to navigate isolation and maintain psychological stability. These practices underscored the importance of resilience in managing loneliness, as they provided emotional support and a sense of community despite physical separation. This paper delves into the complex interplay between loneliness, social media, resilience, and the psychological adaptations necessary to sustain well-being in a digitally driven world. Findings indicate that resilience, social connectedness, and a focus on quality interactions are essential to addressing the emotional voids that digital engagement can intensify. By encouraging meaningful connections, fostering self-awareness, and recognizing the nuanced effects of technology on mental health, society can develop more effective solutions for managing loneliness in the digital era.

Keywords :
Digital Nomadism, Emotional Resilience, Fear of Missing Out, Loneliness, Mental Health, Psycho-logical Resilience, Social Connectivity, Social Media.

–

References :

• Asghar, A., & Iqbal, N. (2019). Loneliness matters: a theoretical review of prevalence in adulthood. J Psychol, 7(1), 41-7.
• Bonsaksen, T., Ruffolo, M., Leung, J., Price, D., Thygesen, H., Schoultz, M., & Geirdal, A. Ø. (2021). Loneliness and its association with social media use during the COVID-19 outbreak. Social Media+ Society, 7(3), 20563051211033821.
• Cacioppo, J. T., & Cacioppo, S. (2018). Loneliness in the modern age: An evolutionary theory of loneliness (ETL). In Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 58, pp. 127-197). Academic press.
• Cauberghe, V., Van Wesenbeeck, I., De Jans, S., Hudders, L., & Ponnet, K. (2021). How adolescents use social media to cope with feelings of loneliness and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 24(4), 250-257.
• Hancock, J., Liu, S. X., Luo, M., & Mieczkowski, H. (2022). Psychological well-being and social media use: A meta-analysis of associations between social media use and depression, anxiety, loneliness, eudaimonic, hedonic and social well-being. Anxiety, Loneliness, Eudaimonic, Hedonic and Social Well-Being (March 9, 2022).
• Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No more FOMO: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751-768.
• Latikka, R., Koivula, A., Oksa, R., Savela, N., & Oksanen, A. (2022). Loneliness and psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Relationships with social media identity bubbles. Social Science & Medicine, 293, 114674.
• Lisitsa, E., Benjamin, K. S., Chun, S. K., Skalisky, J., Hammond, L. E., & Mezulis, A. H. (2020). Loneliness among young adults during COVID-19 pandemic: The mediational roles of social media use and social support seeking. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 39(8), 708-726.
• Nowland, R., Necka, E. A., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2018). Loneliness and social internet use: pathways to reconnection in a digital world?. Perspectives on psychological science, 13(1), 70-87.
• O’Day, E. B., & Heimberg, R. G. (2021). Social media use, social anxiety, and loneliness: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 3, 100070.
• Pittman, M. (2018). Happiness, loneliness, and social media: perceived intimacy mediates the emotional benefits of platform use. The Journal of Social Media in Society, 7(2), 164-176.
• Pittman, M., & Reich, B. (2016). Social media and loneliness: Why an Instagram picture may be worth more than a thousand Twitter words. Computers in human behavior, 62, 155-167.
• Seidler, Z. E., Wilson, M. J., Rice, S. M., Kealy, D., Oliffe, J. L., & Ogrodniczuk, J. S. (2022). Virtual connection, real support? A study of loneliness, time on social media and psychological distress among men. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(2), 288-293.
• Smith, D., Leonis, T., & Anandavalli, S. (2021). Belonging and loneliness in cyberspace: impacts of social media on adolescents’ well-being. Australian Journal of Psychology, 73(1), 12-23.
• Thomas, L., Orme, E., & Kerrigan, F. (2020). Student loneliness: The role of social media through life transitions. Computers & Education, 146, 103754.
• Thomas, V., Balzer Carr, B., Azmitia, M., & Whittaker, S. (2021). Alone and online: Understanding the relationships between social media, solitude, and psychological adjustment. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(2), 201.
• Twenge, J. M., Spitzberg, B. H., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Less in-person social interaction with peers among US adolescents in the 21st century and links to loneliness. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(6), 1892-1913.
• Yang, C. C. (2016). Instagram use, loneliness, and social comparison orientation: Interact and browse on social media, but don’t compare. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 19(12), 703-708.
• Yavich, R., Davidovitch, N., & Frenkel, Z. (2019). Social Media and Loneliness–Forever Connected?. Higher Education Studies, 9(2), 10-21.
• Youssef, L., Hallit, R., Kheir, N., Obeid, S., & Hallit, S. (2020). Social media use disorder and loneliness: any association between the two? Results of a cross-sectional study among Lebanese adults. BMC psychology, 8, 1-7.

–

---

---

WEB – PAGE COUNTER