The impact of social media use on the relationship between social isolation and connectedness during COVID-19 in Hong Kong

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of social connectedness, whilst the popularity of social media continues to rise. The present study examined the relationship between engagement on social networking sites (SNSs), social connectedness and social isolation in a sample of Hong Kong Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 232 participants (65% female) aged 18-65 years were recruited to a cross-sectional online study. SNS engagement was predictive of social connectedness in the present sample. Findings revealed that SNS engagement was associated with lower levels of social isolation. Younger participants reported greater engagement with SNSs, and lower levels of social isolation compared to older participants. However, older respondents reported greater levels of social connectedness. No gender differences were observed in social connectedness, but men reported significantly higher levels of social isolation compared to women. With the COVID-19 pandemic only just at an end, social restrictions have recently been lifted in Hong Kong, resulting in the significance of online communication becoming ever more important as a means of maintaining social connectedness.