Pew Survey Challenges Social Isolation Myths Regarding Internet, Mobile Phones

Results of a new survey by Pew Internet & American Life Project contradict the widely held belief that the Internet and mobile phones are making users more socially isolated.

Pew’s Personal Networks and Community Survey examined how the Internet and cell phones affect how users interact with people in their core social network. From the survey’s Executive Summary:

Our key findings challenge previous research and commonplace fears about the harmful social impact of new technology.

Among the conclusions drawn from the telephone (both mobile and landline) survey of more than 2,500 Americans last summer:

* The extent of social isolation has hardly changed since 1985, contrary to concerns that the prevalence of severe isolation has tripled since then.

* Contrary to the considerable concern that people’s use of the internet and cell phones could be tied to the trend towards smaller networks, we find that ownership of a mobile phone and participation in a variety of internet activities are associated with larger and more diverse core discussion networks.

* Frequent internet users and those who maintain a blog are much more likely to confide in someone who is of another race. Those who share photos online are more likely to report that they discuss important matters with someone who is a member of another political party.

(I’m assuming this goes beyond, “Obama sucks.” “No, you suck.” But I don’t think Pew drilled down to that level.)

* Internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with having a more diverse social network.

* Most internet activities have little or a positive relationship to local activity. For instance, internet users are as likely as anyone else to visit with their neighbors in person. Cell phone users, those who use the internet frequently at work, and bloggers are more likely to belong to a local voluntary association, such as a youth group or a charitable organization. However, we find some evidence that use of social networking services (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn) substitutes for some neighborhood involvement.

* Internet use does not pull people away from public places. Rather, it is associated with engagement in places such as parks, cafes, and restaurants, the kinds of locales where research shows that people are likely to encounter a wider array of people and diverse points of view.

You get the picture. There’s more in the survey’s Executive Summary. You also can view the entire survey (PDF file) here.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.