In any conversation about the use of social networking sites, someone inevitably questions whether these technologies actually separate people from the real world, and only provide them with the illusion of connection. According to a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, that’s not actually the case.
The study asked 2,255 Americans about their social networking habits. The answers challenge beliefs held by some. Facebook users actually have more close relationships than non-users, and are more trusting, more politically engaged, and get more social support than other Internet users.
According to Pew, of the 79% of American adults using the Internet, nearly half (47%) use at least one social networking website. Ninety-two percent of these social networking users are on Facebook, 29% on MySpace, 18% are on LinkedIn, and 13% use Twitter.
Facebook and Twitter have the most engaged participants, with 52% and 33% of users logging on daily, respectively, compared with 7% who visit MySpace daily and 6% who do the same on LinkedIn.
On Facebook in particular, participation, as opposed to passive consumption, appears to be a common trend. Fifteen percent of users update their status on an average day, 22% comment on another’s post or status, 20% comment on others’ photos, 26% “like” another user’s content and 10% send a private message to a friend.
This daily use and engagement leads to generally positive feelings among Facebook users, specifically, in how they perceive their relationships with others and the world around them. Facebook users who use the site multiple times per day are 43% more likely than other Internet users to be trusting of others—that is, they feel that most people can be trusted.
Regular Facebook users are also, on average, 9% more close to their friends than other Internet users. And they score higher when it comes to social support than other online users. Pew says they are 5 points higher in total support, 5 points higher in emotional support and 5 points higher in companionship than Internet users with similar demographics.
The study also showed a general increase in the use of social networking services to stay in touch with close friends. In 2008, only 29% of users said they had friended all of their core “confidants.” Today, that number is 40%.
Users tend to revive their “dormant” relationships (high school friend requests, anyone?), and these connections can become important sources of information, even though they’re not active relationships.
Finally, Facebook users are more engaged with politics, no doubt thanks to the numerous political conversations that occur online via status updates and political cause pages.
This study shows, says Pew, that there is little validity to claims that people who use social networking sites have smaller social networks, less closeness with others, or are exposed to less diversity. In other words, your Facebook friends are real friends because Facebook allows you to mirror your offline connections via the Internet; it does not isolate you from them. It may even enable you to have more close ties, if you are a frequent Facebook user.
