Online social networking is a pervasive but empirically understudied
phenomenon. Strong public opinions on its consequences exist but are backed up
by little empirical evidence and almost no causally conclusive, experimental
research. The current study tested the psychological effects of posting status
updates on Facebook using an experimental design. For 1 week, participants in
the experimental condition were asked to post more than they usually do,
whereas participants in the control condition received no instructions.
Participants added a lab “Research Profile” as a Facebook friend allowing for
the objective documentation of protocol compliance, participants’ status
updates, and friends’ responses. Results revealed (1) that the experimentally
induced increase in status updating activity reduced loneliness, (2) that the
decrease in loneliness was due to participants feeling more connected to their
friends on a daily basis, and (3) that the effect of posting on loneliness was
independent of direct social feedback (i.e., responses) by friends
