Internet Use Does NOT Lead to Social Isolation

Hurray! A recent study by the Pew Research Center and the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication in the U.S. discovered that the use of mobile phones, as well as the Internet - including photo sharing sites, social networking sites, instant messaging, and blogs - is not leading us to social isolation.

Dr. Keith Hampton, the study's lead author, says that face-to-face contact is still the highest form of communication within a person's "core network", i.e. a person's core group of close friends and family. "It turns out that those who use the Internet and mobile phones have notable social advantages," he said. "People use the technology to stay in touch and share information in ways that keep them socially active and connected to their communities."


Dr. Keith Hampton, lead author of the study
(photo source: Dr. Hampton's official faculty bio)

Interesting extra: users of social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are 40% more likely to visit a bar.

How about you? Do you think your use of social networking sites is causing you to be more or less social in personal communications offline? Feel free to express your views via a comment to this post!