A new study is debunking some of the assumptions that have been made with regards to Facebook users, along with their political agendas and social ties.
The study released today by Pew Research, states that Facebook users are more politically engaged than other social media users online.
Those who log onto the popular site several times per day were an additional two and half times more likely to attend a political rally or meeting, 57 percent more likely to persuade someone on their vote, and an additional 43 percent more likely to have said they would vote.
Although the report did not specify why avid Facebookers tend to be more in tune to the political climate, there is speculation however, that the soclal networking medium played a crucial role, especially amongst young people during the 2008 presidential elections. Politicos are also forecasting that Facebook will also continue to have a major influence in the upcoming 2012 reelection campaign.
On the flip side, the old negative reports which stated social media users were more inclined to be lonely and depressed has now been debunked. According to the Pew findings, Facebook users get more social support, have more close friends and are more trusting than their non-networked counterparts.
Here are more brow-raising statistics regarding Facebook’s social ties:
- A regular Facebook user averages nine percent more close, core ties in his or her social network compared with other Internet users.
- The average Facebook user has 229 friends, of whom 22 percent are from high school, 12 percent extended family, 10 percent coworkers, 9 percent college friends, eight percent immediate family, seven percent voluntary groups and tw0 percent neighbors; only three percent are people that users have never met in person.
- And 40 percent of Facebook users have friended all of their closest confidantes.
Ahhh, the political ties that bind. Do you use Facebook as your source of up-to-the-minute politcal goings-on?
