2011-06-15-皮尤-Social_networking_sites_and_our_lives_85页_1mb

Report Summary

Main Findings

• Social networking sites have nearly doubled their user base since 2008, with 79% of US adults using the internet and 59% using at least one social networking site.

• Facebook is the dominant platform, with 92% of social networking users having profiles.

• Heavy Facebook use is associated with higher levels of social support, trust in others, and political engagement.

• MySpace users show greater perspective-taking ability and are less likely to be politically engaged.

• Social media use does not reduce social capital or personal relationships, but may enhance them.

Political Engagement

• SNS users are politically more active 2.5x compared to non-users overall.

• Facebook users specifically are 2.5x more likely to attend political events, 57% more likely to persuade others to vote, and 43% more likely to vote.

Social Support

• Facebook users receive significantly more social support across all dimensions (total, emotional, companionship, and instrumental) when controlling for demographics.

Trust

• Internet users are twice as likely to feel people can be trusted compared to non-users.

• Facebook users who use the platform multiple times daily are 43% more likely to trust others and three times as likely as non-users.

The study found no evidence that SNS use isolates people or reduces diversity in social networks. Instead, it supports stronger social connections and political participation.