A June survey shows Facebook users have true friends online, reported the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.
“Across the board, we see there is no negative effect” from social-media use, said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet Project. “In fact, there are a host of positive outcomes that challenged some of the worst suspicions that people have about the impact of social-network sites.”
Survey finding: Most Facebook friends include high school or college friends as well as relatives or co-workers.
“These are real friends,” said Keith Hampton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who was the lead author of the Pew study. “What does a Facebook friend really mean? Well, it turns out it really means friend.”