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Does social media make us lonely?

According to a recent survey conducted by health insurance firm Cigna, social media can in fact make us lonely. It all depends on how engaged one is on such platforms.

If you're passively using it -- say, scrolling News Feeds and mindlessly checking out what people are commenting on each other's posts -- it could very well lead to negative outcomes like depression and loneliness.

But if you're considerably more active -- reaching out and connecting to people to facilitate eventual face-to-face interactions -- social media can be beneficial.

The findings held across all age groups.

What's more, respondents who said they have more in-person interactions on a daily basis reported being less lonely.

Further, the survey unearthed that working too much or too little is also associated with the experience of loneliness.

There's no question that people should work in-person interactions into their schedule.

While social media has made it easier to keep in touch with friends and loved ones as our lives get busier and busier, relying solely on sites like Facebook for social intercourse can leave one feeling isolated. Digital communication can feel impersonal and is no substitute for human contact the traditional way.

And it comes as little surprise that work-life balance greatly influences our well-being. If we're working long hours, it leaves us with less time for friends, family, and ourselves. Yet, if we're working too little, we feel like something is missing, for work adds structure to our lives.

Whether we're in the office or on Facebook, one thing is clear: life isn't as fulfilling when we distance ourselves too much from the people who matter most in our life.
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