The Sociovirtualization Paradox: Being Highly Connected but Still Lonely in the Digital Age
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https://doi.org/10.31039/plic.2026.16.374Keywords:
Sociovirtualization, Digital loneliness, Social media paradox, Hyper-connectionAbstract
This literature review discusses an important problem of modern digital life: people have more online contact than ever before, but at the same time, many feel lonely and socially isolated. Instead of looking at this issue from only one field, this paper combines research from different areas using the idea of sociovirtualization. This concept, introduced by Kurt (2012), explains how social interactions are moving into online environments and changing because of this.
The study uses a systematic method to collect and analyze research from sociology, psychology, and communication studies published between 2010 and 2024. The results show three main causes of this problem. First, people feel pressure to present a perfect image of themselves online and depend on likes and followers, which replaces real connections with more superficial interactions. Second, algorithms shape what people see online, leading to constant comparison with others and feelings of being left out. Third, real-life social activities are decreasing, which weakens strong personal relationships.
The review also shows an important gap in research: there is no clear model that connects individual psychological effects with larger social changes. This study helps fill that gap by offering a model that sees loneliness as a result of how modern digital systems work, rather than as an accidental effect.
Finally, the paper suggests a future research direction called "Intentional Sociovirtualization." This idea focuses on designing digital tools that better support basic human social and psychological needs.
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