Social media gets criticized for separating society from reality, but socializing online is actually strengthening our offline relationships. A study by Pew Research offered interesting insights into how Facebook is reshaping our society and making our relationships stronger.

This information is interesting on a personal level as well as for businesses that are on Facebook.

There are More Friends Online

Friendship and networking are two of the main reasons we use social media. The average user of social media boasts more close ties than people who don’t. That means they have more connections, more friends, and are less likely to be socially isolated.

Facebook Users are Generally Optimists

When questioned if they believed people were trustworthy, Facebook users answered in the affirmative over 40 percent of the time. Compared to people who don’t use any social networking sites, Facebook users are three times more trusting.

There is a Sense of Community

Facebook consistently gives more than it takes. The average user regularly receives nearly twice as many likes or shares on their own posts than they give to others. This is indicative of a strong, supportive community.

Facebook Makes You a Better Citizen

Because Facebook is a platform for sharing opinions and stating positions, Facebook users tend to be more politically engaged than others. This is great news for politicians, because it allows them to survey the political landscape with data from a single site.

Facebook Rekindles Past Relationships

There are countless stories about Facebook reviving “dormant” relationships. As the key demographic on Facebook grows older, more and more users are reconnecting with friends from high school or college and reforming those past relationships into lifelong friendships.

Again, don’t take our word for it – this is all from a study done by the good folks at Pew Research.

If you’d like Alexander’s help with Facebook engagement or marketing, please reach out. We’d love to help.