A recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project slashes the stereotype of the social network user. You know the one – the pale loner holed up in his tiny room, ruling the Internet world while he remains a misfit in the “real world.”
The study shows that email, blogging and social networking doesn’t lead to social isolation. Quite the opposite, in fact. Only 6 percent of people say they have no one to talk to about the important things in their lives, and that figure is virtually unchanged since 1985, well before so many spent time in social networking.
Whereas people used to use land line telephones to reach out and touch someone, now they’re as likely to use a cell phone or text. But face to face remains the number-one way people interact. According to the study, the average person sees people in their close group of confidants 210 days out of the year. If they have a cell phone, they call each close confidant on 195 days.
And many times, social networkers are meeting those close confidants in bars. Users of social networking sites are 40 percent more likely to visit a bar than their non-social networking counterparts.
But here’s the interesting thing. People who use Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the rest of those sites are 36 percent less likely to visit a religious institution.
Since I doubt Facebook’s marketing plan included reaching out to only heathens, I think something else is going on here.
Many people use religious institutions as the places they visit to feel a part of something larger than themselves. I believe that social networks are serving that purpose now.
Think about it: when you’ve had a bad day, your social network is right there to buck you up. When you want to raise money for a good cause, you can reach a large community quickly online.
Have a sick relative? The Caring Bridge online will keep people current with the sick one’s every thought and prognosis. And the positive thoughts people leave on the guestbook are reminiscent of prayers.
When you want people to support your opinions, your Facebook friends are there. In fact, in the new Church of Facebook, the thumbs-up “like” button has become the new “Amen!”
This is a great blog entry. I think Social Networking will transform and democratize our society much more than television.