Real-Life Social Network Stays Same Size

You replace half of old friends with new ones every 7 years: study
By A Ali,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 3, 2009 12:57 PM CDT
Real-Life Social Network Stays Same Size
Half of friends are dropped every seven years, making room for new ones, the research suggests.   (Shutter stock)

It might not be so on Facebook, but the size of people’s actual social networks stays about the same throughout life, LiveScience reports. Most people replace half their friends every 7 years, a survey of 1,000 people finds. The study—which also notes that people often make new friends through familiar means—contradicts previous research that said social networks are shrinking. (More friendship stories.)

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