Research from the University of Cincinnati found that more than half of college students nationwide experience loneliness, with social media use strongly linked to isolation. The study surveyed nearly 65,000 students ages 18 to 24 across more than 120 colleges. Students spending just 16 hours a week on social media were 19 percent more likely to report feeling lonely than non-users. Those spending at least 30 hours weekly were 38 percent more likely to feel isolated. Madelyn Hill, the assistant professor who led the study, called for colleges to take a more proactive approach by educating students about excessive social media use and encouraging them to set time limits.
A September symposium on young men in Washington, D.C., highlighted overlapping challenges they face, including technology use. Survey research presented at the symposium found that more than half of men ages 18 to 30 spend over five hours online daily. Student success professionals expressed particular concern about loneliness and isolation among young men, who are less likely than women to seek mental health support.
About one in three young people ages 13 to 24 are talking to AI for emotional or relational support, according to a survey by The Rithm Project, a nonprofit focused on human connection in the age of AI. The survey included nearly 2,400 respondents, with more than 500 ages 18 to 24. Alison Lee, the organization's chief research and development officer, said the reality of how young people use AI for emotional support is more nuanced than public discussions suggest.
Digital wagering has expanded rapidly, and 15 percent of undergraduates surveyed by Inside Higher Ed report participating in online sports betting, prediction-market trading or other digital wagering since enrolling. That rate rises to 25 percent among male undergraduates and 12 percent among those ages 25 and older. The survey included 5,034 undergraduates from 310 mostly public two- and four-year institutions. Only 11 percent of student success administrators surveyed say their institution considers digital wagering an escalating crisis, though nearly half of male undergraduates and a third of women believe the issue deserves more institutional attention. Jhenai W. Chandler, vice president for research and policy at NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, said digital wagering should be part of standard prevention conversations on campus and discussions about mental health and financial wellness.
Cornell University launched Cornell Unplugged in September, inviting students, faculty and staff to consider when students might be better served without technology.