Use of internet makes people socially active

According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, internet users does not foster social isolation, but actually enhances the size and diversity of people's social networks. People who use internet to share photos online are 61% more likely to have discussion partners who cross political lines, and frequent at home internet users were 53% more likely to have a confidant of a different race. People using Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and other social networking services are 30 percent less likely to know at least some neighbours.

The average size of core discussion networks is 12 percent larger amongst mobile phone users, nine percent larger for people who share photos online and nine percent bigger for those who use instant messaging. Also, mobile phone users tend to have core networks that are 25 percent more diverse, while internet users' networks are 15 percent more likely to include non-kin discussion partners. Internet users are 42 percent more likely to visit a public park or plaza and 45 percent more likely to visit a coffee shop or cafe. It is clear that people shape technology far more than the other way around. People's lives are likely to be enhanced by participation with new communication technologies, rather than by fearing that their use of new technology will send them into a spiral of isolation.

So, do you think Internet is making people more socially active?