The Strength of Internet Ties
I have just read an important study on the strength and importance of Internet ties. While I have known this personally, it is exciting to see how importance this new connectedness is to having a successful and happy life. The connectedness that the Internet and within social networks has real payoffs: People use the internet to seek out others in their networks of contacts when they need help. A full copy of the study is attached for downloading. Here are the key points:
The internet helps build social capital.
The internet plays socially beneficial roles in a world moving towards “networked individualism.”
Email allows people to get help from their social networks and the web lets them gather information and find support and information as they face important decisions.
The internet supports social networks.
Email is more capable than in-person or phone communication of facilitating regular contact with
large networks.
Email is a tool of “glocalization.” It connects distant friends and relatives, yet it also connects those who live nearby.
Email does not seduce people away from in-person and phone contact.
People use the internet to put their social networks into motion when they need help with important issues in their lives.
The internet’s role is important in explaining the greater likelihood of online users getting help as
compared to non-users.
Americans’ use of a range of information technologies smooths their paths to getting help.
Those with many significant ties and access to people with a variety of different occupations are
more likely to get help from their networks.
Internet users have somewhat larger social networks than non-users. The median size of an
American’s network of core and significant ties is 35. For internet users, the median network size is 37; for non-users it is 30.
About 60 million Americans say the internet has played an important or crucial role in helping them deal with at least one major life decision in the past two years.
The number of Americans relying on the internet for major life decisions has increased by one-third since 2002.
At major moments, some people say the internet helps them connect with other people and experts who help them make choices. Others say that the web helps them get information and compare options as they face decisions.
Source: Jeffrey Boase, John B. Horrigan, Barry Wellman, Barry, and Lee Rainie. The Strength of Internet Ties.
Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, January 2006.
