Social isolation and new technology

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 we 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.

Read media reports:
– Tech tools may help pull people together (Silicon Valley Mercury News)
– Web, cellphone users are not isolated from reality (USA Today)
– Study finds social media is actually social (ReadWriteWeb)