Do mobile phones and Internet isolate Americans from the society?

 Pew Internet & American Life Project conducted a survey that showed the opinion that Americans became more isolated because of the wide-spread and highly-used cellphones and the Internet is not true. It is as wrong as the statement that friends become more distant and all conversations with them are not personal and people around them are filtered out.

In fact, it is quite on the contrary. Americans who use such technologies have larger and more diverse "core discussion networks" than those who don't. The survey finds that the users of networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn can indeed visit their neighbors more rarely, but at the same time Internet users in general are just as likely as others to communicate with neighbors.

Cellphone users, bloggers and those who use the Internet frequently at work are actually more likely to belong to a local volunteer group as well. But in spite of the fact of good acquaintance with the neighbors, the Facebook users are less likely to see them as companions and do not rely on them in any important matters.

The study also examined how cellphones and the Internet impact on people's interaction. It showed that the Internet does not prevent people from visiting public places, such as parks, restaurants, theatres and cafes. Actually, the technology is associated with more frequent use of these places though Hampton says it's unclear whether Internet use widens people's social circles or whether people with already-wide social circles simply tend to use the Internet more.

The results of survey must calm those who worry about growing social isolation in the USA. The University of Arizona and Duke University study found that the quantity of really lonely Americans became 3 times larger from 1985 to 2004. The Pew study found that the average person's social network had shrunk but showed people who use cellphones and the Internet actually buck the trend.

Looking at the figures, we can notice that respondents who have a cellphone have a "core discussion network" that is 12% bigger than those who don't. Those who use the Internet for communicating and sharing information have a network that's 9% bigger.
Lee Rainie, directed the Pew Internet project, affirms that spending time with online social networks gives people new powers to extend themselves and extend their interests.