Why You Have More Facebook Friends Than Real Ones

A recent study commissioned by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust revealed that the Internet plays a large role in the lives of those suffering with illness, especially those who cannot physically socialise the way they prefer. Helen Oxley, a consultant clinical psychologist at Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Wythenshaw hospital said: “For most people, the Internet is a way of keeping in touch with loved ones and friends, but for people who are isolated due to illness, it plays a more vital role and can often act as a lifeline.”

Oxley continued on to say: “People with illnesses often rely on the Internet's ability to facilitate friendships as they blog and use networking sites as a way of coming to terms with, and dealing with their illness. It can foster a sense of social connection for those who can frequently feel isolated, which is important to psychological well being.”

The research showed some interesting facts about people's behaviour when social networking, as well as the type of friendships that are established online. For example, 5% of people will ask for the number of a new friend, but 23% of those polled prefer adding a new friend to their social network, either by acquiring their email address or using their new friend's full name. One in ten people claim to have found their best friend online. Likewise, one in ten believe they will meet life-long friends through the Internet.

The study's results have also confirmed a social phenomenon many have mentioned in the past couple of years; that many people have more Facebook friends than they do real life pals. Results showed that the typical user of social networking sites have around 55 real life friends, but about 121 virtual ones! Almost twice as many!

Related to this, and perhaps most surprising, the study also revealed that people tend to be more honest with friends online than when faced with friends in real life. In the same statement, Oxley said: “In a wider society, the ways in which friendships are formed and nurtured is changing with people recognizing they can develop deep, meaningful connections with others that they've never met, and may never meet.”