Social Isolation and New Technology

[Elphaba]

Social Isolation and New Technology - Pew Research Center

This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People's use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when we examine people's full personal network -- their strong and weak ties -- internet use in general, and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular, are associated with more diverse social networks.

[Moksha]

Internet message boards have the potential of being the most significant point of contact for the social isolated and elderly. It is hard for many older people to type fast and smoothly enough to enjoy chatrooms and instant messages in a significant way, but message boards and email can do the trick.