Protect Your Kids
Protect Your Kids 2 minute read

Facebook Friends: How the world’s most popular website is improving our social ties

Last Updated: April 3, 2024

I’m not supposed to be typing this.

I’m supposed to tell you about all the red-letter dangers of the Big Bad Internet. I’m supposed to make you tremble at the thought of turning on your computer in fear that some ferocious porn girl will flash you, or some predator will run off with your kids, or you’ll wake up one morning and find you son is 36 years old, still living at home, and has wasted his life playing World of Warcraft, having no hope for a bright future.

And I’m supposed to tell you that sites like Facebook are literally ruining face-to-face relationships, and twenty years from now we’ll all not know how to make eye contact or communicate using our vocal cords.

I’m supposed to, but today, I’m not.

Researchers from the Pew Internet & American Life Project have concluded: Social network users, especially regular Facebook users, have more close friendships and social support on average than other people.

How do they figure this? Social scientists often talk about our “core network.” These are the close confidants in our lives, those who can be depended on for emotional support, companionship, instrumental aid, and the people with whom we can discuss important matters. Those who have more ties and closer ties in their core network have more overall support in their lives.

Let’s look at some numbers. According to Pew’s research, on a scale of 0 to 100 (called a “Social Support Scale”), the average American scores 75/100 for “total support.” They are graded on specifics like emotional support (such as receiving advice and information from others), companionship (such as having people to spend time with), and tangible aid (such as having someone to help if you are sick in bed).

But what about the average Facebook user? Those who use the website multiple times a day score 5 points higher in total social support than other Internet users (8 points higher than non-Internet users), 5 points higher in emotional support than either Internet or non-Internet users, and 5 points higher in companionship than other Internet users (11 higher than non-Internet users). They do not report any more or less access to tangible aid than other Internet users.

Putting this in perspective: The average person who starts frequently using Facebook gets about half the boost in points of someone who has just gotten married. That’s a lot.

Here are some other highlights from the report:

  • 15% of non-Internet users have “no close ties” but only 7% of Internet users said the same (and only 5% of social network users).
  • Frequent users of Facebook have larger core networks. Those who use Facebook a few times per day tend to have about 9% more strong ties that those who do not.
  • When asked about their total community network (family, friends, neighbors, former classmates, work associates, etc.) the average adult Facebook user has “friended” about 48% of that network.
  • 40% of social network site users have friended literally all their core discussion confidants. This is up from 29% two years ago.

In conclusion, it is simply a myth that a frequent user of Facebook, on average, is cutting him or herself off from quality relationships. Rather, the opposite seems to be true. More and more people are using social networks to not only maintain and strengthen their current social ties, but also to increase the size of their core network.

Now, this isn’t the only verdict out on Facebook. There are many other questions to consider about this popular social network. But for now we can say, along with Pew’s researchers, that Facebook and other social networks can add great benefit to our lives.

. . . .

More information:

  1. As an editor for several online magazines with elaborate social networks, this doesn’t surprise me at all. I’m glad to see you all sharing the good news of technology a midst the warnings.

  2. This is really interesting! Thanks for posting this.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related in Protect Your Kids

Editor's Picks

Teenager man using smartphone.

Protect Your Kids

Social Media and the Slippery Slope

In 2024, the number of worldwide social media users passed 5 billion—over…

5 minute read

Read Post

Editor's Picks

Family using the internet.

Protect Your Kids

Christian Internet Filters

The internet is awash with pornography and other undesirable content. How can…

6 minute read

Read Post

Editor's Picks

Phone and a computer configured to block porn sites.

Protect Your Kids

How To Block Porn Sites

The amount of pornography available online can be disheartening. But here are…

8 minute read

Read Post

Editor's Picks

Close-up of parent holding a child's hand.

Protect Your Kids

How Churches Can Rescue This Generation From Pornography

Culture is always changing. And there are things in our culture that…

4 minute read

Read Post

Editor's Picks

Female student writing a scholarship essay.

Protect Your Kids

5 Eye-Opening Revelations From 850 Scholarship Essays

Each year, Covenant Eyes holds a scholarship contest for current members who…

4 minute read

Read Post

Editor's Picks

Silhouette of a man walking through a tunnel.

Protect Your Kids

The Sound of Freedom and the Problem of Pornography

The Covenant Eyes Podcast recently sat down with Operation Underground Railroad founder,…

2 minute read

Read Post

Related in Protect Your Kids

Teenager man using smartphone.

Protect Your Kids

Social Media and the Slippery Slope

In 2024, the number of worldwide social media users passed 5 billion—over…

In 2024, the number of worldwide social media users passed 5 billion—over 60% of the world’s population. Some regions of the world, such as Northern Europe, 80% are using social media.1 Despite its popularity, and…

5 minute read

0 comments

Family using the internet.

Protect Your Kids

Christian Internet Filters

The internet is awash with pornography and other undesirable content. How can…

The internet is awash with pornography and other undesirable content. How can Christians engage with the digital world while protecting themselves and their families? If you’re a Christian, especially a Christian parent, you need to…

6 minute read

0 comments

Phone and a computer configured to block porn sites.

Protect Your Kids

How To Block Porn Sites

The amount of pornography available online can be disheartening. But here are…

The amount of pornography available online can be disheartening. But here are some practical steps you can take to block porn sites on your computer or mobile device. Porn-blocking software makes it easier to block…

8 minute read

0 comments

Close-up of parent holding a child's hand.

Protect Your Kids

How Churches Can Rescue This Generation From Pornography

Culture is always changing. And there are things in our culture that…

Culture is always changing. And there are things in our culture that take us away from Christ. Every generation tends to feel doom and gloom at the rate of change. Ours is not different in…

4 minute read

0 comments

Female student writing a scholarship essay.

Protect Your Kids

5 Eye-Opening Revelations From 850 Scholarship Essays

Each year, Covenant Eyes holds a scholarship contest for current members who…

Each year, Covenant Eyes holds a scholarship contest for current members who are enrolled as full-time students. This year, we had over 850 applicants! These amazing students answered questions about integrity using today’s technology, their…

4 minute read

0 comments

Silhouette of a man walking through a tunnel.

Protect Your Kids

The Sound of Freedom and the Problem of Pornography

The Covenant Eyes Podcast recently sat down with Operation Underground Railroad founder,…

The Covenant Eyes Podcast recently sat down with Operation Underground Railroad founder, Tim Ballard. Tim’s story has been dramatized in the new blockbuster movie, The Sound of Freedom. In our conversation with Tim, we learned…

2 minute read

0 comments