Linked Yet Alone? A Person-Centered Longitudinal Study of Social Media Use Profiles and Social Connection Typologies in Chinese Emerging Adults

Although the association between digital technology and social connection is widely debated, it is still unclear which what patterns of social media use are linked to social connection and how. This gap in the literature necessitates a holistic evaluation of each construct and their comprehensive associations. This study employed a person-centered longitudinal design to explore the latent typologies and transitions of social connection, and their association with social media use profiles among Chinese emerging adults (N=1025 at baseline; 68.88% female; Mage = 18.37, SD = 0.71) across three 6-month waves. Using latent transition analysis and loglinear modeling approach with latent variables, three baseline social connection typologies were identified (moderate network average, small-dense network intimate, and large-loose network detached typologies), which exhibited both stability and variability over time. Furthermore, active deep social media users were least likely to be in intimate social connection typologies. These findings reveal the multifaceted and heterogeneous nature of social media use and social connection within the digital ecosystem and identify the potential risks that active deep use may pose to the development of intimate relationships. This study offers a refined perspective for fostering and intervening in adaptive social connection in the digital age.