Another striking survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project has been released; this one is titled “The Strength of Internet Ties.” The summary reports that,

Rather than conflicting with people’s community ties, we find that the internet fits seamlessly with in-person and phone encounters. With the help of the internet, people are able to maintain active contact with sizable social networks, even though many of the people in those networks do not live nearby. Moreover, there is media multiplexity: The more that people see each other in person and talk on the phone, the more they use the internet. The connectedness that the internet and other media foster within social networks has real payoffs: People use the internet to seek out others in their networks of contacts when they need help.

I can’t tell my girlfriend about this study or she’ll think there’s really something wrong with me if the internet doesn’t swallow other peoples’ lives!

Other interesting points:

• The report uses the word “glocalization,” in quotes. That’s a word I’ve only seen less mainstream contexts before (see, for example, Danah Boyd’s “Why Web2.0 Matters: Prepare for Glocalization.”)
• “One could easily imagine some other traits of internet users — such as, their higher income which makes it easier to afford access, their higher levels of education, their more sizable social networks, or their more robust professional networks — that would explain why they are more likely to get help. It could be that these characteristics, not their internet use, account for the differences in getting help relative to non-users. However, statistical regression analysis that disentangles these various effects shows that internet
  and email use each are independent factors in explaining the levels and likelihood of getting help. “
• The report also found that having a large number of more casual connections was more helpful in making nearly all major decisions except health care related decisions, where the study found a greater number of “core connections” to be most helpful.
• Based on extrapolating the survey respondents relative to the total US population, the study concludes that the following estimated numbers of US adults have used the internet for:
  • Getting additional training for career: About 21 million
  • Helping another person with a major illness or medical condition: About 17 million
  • Choosing a school for yourself or a child: About 17 million
  • Buying a car: About 16 million
  • Finding a new place to live: About 10 million
  • Changing jobs: About 8 million
  • Dealing oneself with a major illness or health condition: About 7 million
• “The wider the range of occupational acquaintances people have, the greater amount of help to which they can access. “

My take on it: This, like many other Pew studies of the internet, is sure to be challenged by a variety of readers. I question it myself, and in particular because of the presumed definition of authenticity. While discussing health matters may indicate a degree of intimacy and thus perhaps authenticity in a relationship – I question whether seeking advice before buying a car does. Similarly, I appreciate it when people look to the internet to gain training for their careers, and I feel much closer to my clients than I was before we met online (!) but the time I spend with them (and finding them) is time not spent in more face-to-face and well-rounded interactions. Still, there do seem to be some important points made here about the importance of the web in our lives. I think the study does show that there are a significant number of people utilizing it for important life processes – the impact on interpersonal relations notwithstanding. So point well taken and no hard feelings here.

The study was based on two telephone surveys performed in 2004 and 2005 with 2,200 adult respondents in each. The study was overseen by Dr. Kristen Purcell.

A previous study by Pew that I found interesting was “The State of Blogging“.

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