Loneliness In David Ludden's Does Using Social Media Make You Lonely

Social media has been long known to have effects on the sociability aspect of many people’s lives. Though, it’s often wondered how severely the use of these platforms can alter people’s minds and their outlook on life. In the article published in a popular publication for everyday users of the internet with an interest in psychology and social well being, Psychology Today, “Does Using Social Media Make You Lonely?” written by David Ludden who has a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, the author addresses this issue by examining how one’s social life and loneliness can be adjusted depending on their use of social media. Ludden crafts a convincing argument that the effects of social media on an individual’s social well being depends on how they use

In his article, Ludden argues that whether or not social media affects your loneliness depends on what you do with it. He examines studies that present that those who use social media to connect with friends who are farther from them experience more loneliness than those who use it to connect with friends who are closer to them. He also claims that the use of social media to examine other people’s activities and lives without participating can increase loneliness and socially awkwardness in the real world, especially when this is being done to compare one's own life to others. Overall, the key to his argument is that the effect of social media on one’s loneliness depends on their social skills and what they are using it for. One of the first rhetorical appeals brought out in Ludden’s article is the appeal to pathos. He

To further convince the reader, Ludden uses a study referenced in a journal by the credible Duke University psychologist, Jenna Clark. The study addresses college students and how the more Facebook friends that freshman had, the less socially adjusted they felt, whereas with seniors, the more Facebook friends they had, the more socially adjusted they felt (Ludden). This was due to a majority of the freshmans' friends being friends from high school or back home, whereas most of the seniors' friends were friends that they had made in college, therefore they were more connected with them because they interacted with them both online and in person. This study makes it easier to understand how the effect that social media has on you fully depends on your use of it. It makes sense that one would feel isolated and less connected to their environment when they are spending their free time connecting with those who aren’t around them. This idea creates a logical understanding for the audience, which solidifies the effectiveness of Ludden’s durable