Social Media Strengthens Social Ties

In CACM: A writeup of a study  that indicate that social media have positive effects:  " ... Contrary to popular opinion, Facebook is making people more social, albeit in ways unique to the digital age, according to new research at The University of Texas at Austin. While the social network site—the most visited site in the world—is helping to close the social media generational gap, it's being used differently by men and women, and by current college students versus recent college graduates .... "