Disconnected in a Connected World: The Loneliness Paradox of Excessive SNS Use and FOMO

Abstract

The use of social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for communication and information sharing has become widespread. However, the interplay between the cognitive and behavioral aspects of this phenomenon, particularly in terms of negative effects and within the context of mobile technology, has largely been neglected in research. This study seeks to address this gap by reviewing existing literature on the excessive use of social networking sites (SNS) across social, hedonic, and cognitive dimensions, and by examining how issues in work, family, and personal health relate to these factors through the mediating effect of the fear of missing out and loneliness. The theoretical framework is supported by the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory, which posits that various environmental elements serve as stimuli (S) that impact an individual's internal states, acting as organisms (O), which in turn influence behavioral responses (R).The survey population includes respondents from Malaysia, China, and Pakistan, using a single wave research strategy where all measurements were taken simultaneously. Our findings support previous research suggesting that a larger social network increases the risk of social overload. Additionally, the survey results indicate that excessive use of social media for hedonic and social purposes positively affects sense of loneliness. Organizations and health professionals could benefit from this study through identifying the potential impact of social media on employee productivity and mental wellbeing, implementing more beneficial workplace policies on digital wellbeing.