# How Does Smartphone Use Impact Loneliness in the Post-COVID Landscape in Japan?

## TL;DR

Smartphone use in Japan after the pandemic reduced loneliness in younger people but increased it in middle-aged adults.

## Contribution

The study reveals contrasting effects of smartphone use on loneliness in different age groups during the post-COVID era.

## Key findings

- Increased smartphone use was linked to higher loneliness in 50–64-year-olds in 2023.
- Younger generations experienced reduced loneliness with increased smartphone use.
- Smartphones may help alleviate loneliness among younger people post-pandemic.

## Abstract

Smartphone use during the active phase of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a crucial means of facilitating communication when strict physical distancing was recommended. Previous studies conducted during the pandemic have suggested that smartphone use contributes to reduced loneliness. However, the influence of smartphone usage on the experience of loneliness in the aftermath of the active phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, also referred to as the post-COVID era, remains unclear, particularly because many physical communication restrictions were lifted during this period. To explore the association of smartphone use with the experience of loneliness in the post-COVID era, we analyzed the latest data from 2022 and 2023, when the COVID-19 pandemic gradually concluded. Our findings revealed that, in 2023, smartphone use increased the risk of loneliness among individuals aged 50–64 years. Conversely, among the younger generations, increased smartphone use was associated with decreased loneliness. The results of our study suggest that smartphones can serve as a significant tool for alleviating loneliness among the younger generations during the post-pandemic period.