The need to share intimate details of your life online is a sign of "loneliness" a psychologist has said.

While many social media users may be happy to share life updates online, clinical psychologist Stephanie Regan has warned against over-sharing.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Dr Regan said over-sharing on social media can be a "bid for connection" for people experiencing loneliness.

"It's an assumed kind of connection - but in fact it can push people away," she said.

"People can feel uncomfortable."

Confidence

Dr Regan said people who are "nervous socially" or "less sure of themselves" are more likely to post more intimate details of their lives on social media.

"When you are more confident, you’re inclined to know what is private and what indeed is other people’s business," she said.  

To stop yourselves from over-sharing, Dr Regan said it is important to be "intentional" with your actions both online and in real life.

"You have to notice and you have to say to yourself 'I'm going to be a listener'," she said.

A person touching their phone

Dr Regan said some people resort to over-sharing when they feel disconnected from others.

"I see that as a loneliness - it's partly because they really need somebody to talk to" she said.

"They need somebody to connect with in the day and some people do live alone and don’t have many people in their lives - it’s an extension of that gone all wrong."

Dr Regan said over-sharing online becomes even more of an issue when social media users' posts involve other people, such as partners or family members.

"Some information belongs to other people - it doesn’t belong to you just because you know it," she said.

According to Dr Regan, it is important to be aware of and respect other people's boundaries as well as your own.