Computer User Anonymous
Do you remember the past when people were shaking their fingers at you “You spend too much time alone on that darn computer”? Well, that was before social media and the ability to interact with millions of people around the world. Now a study has confirmed it, using the internet leads people to more diverse networks.
The study released November 4, by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, refutes a widely-reported 2006 study that argued since 1985 Americans have become more socially isolated, the size of their discussion networks has declined, and the diversity of those people with whom they discuss important matters has decreased.
Flash forward to 2008 as Social Media explodes the Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People’s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when they examine people’s full personal network – their strong and weak ties – internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with more diverse social networks.
Social Media is a growing powerful force, look for more cross platform integration in the future to make it even more preeminent.
