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Does social media drive social isolation, or does social isolation drive social media?

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine attempts to explore these (and many other) questions. The study tracked almost 1,800 young Americans between 19 and 32 years of age, and measured their use of 11 social media platforms along with their own self-reported level of perceived social isolation. Those who landed within the highest quartile of social media use reported the highest levels of isolation. They were three times more likely to report feelings of isolation than those in the lowest quartile of use. The study refrains from postulating a causative relationship, but still notes the strong correlation.

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Edward Morrissey

Edward Morrissey has been writing about politics since 2003 in his blog, Captain's Quarters, and now writes for HotAir.com. His columns have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, The New York Sun, the Washington Times, and other newspapers. Morrissey has a daily Internet talk show on politics and culture at Hot Air. Since 2004, Morrissey has had a weekend talk radio show in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and often fills in as a guest on Salem Radio Network's nationally-syndicated shows. He lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters. Morrissey's new book, GOING RED, will be published by Crown Forum on April 5, 2016.