Most social net users are kind, Pew survey finds

Computerworld - A majority of U.S. social networking users say their fellow users mostly kind, and that the sites make them feel good about themselves.

A Pew Internet survey of some 2,260 American adults found that 85% of social networkers see fellow users on sites like Facebook to be mostly kind. Only 5% said reporting finding fellow users acting mostly unkind.

Some 68% of social networking users surveyed told Pew researchers that their networks have made them feel good about themselves. And 61% reported having experiences that made them feel closer to another person, according to Pew.

We're also seeing acts of kindness on our favorite social networking sites.

Pew also reported that 39% of those polled said they frequently see acts of generosity by others on their social networks, while another 36% said they sometimes see others behaving generously and helpfully.

It's not all social networking roses, though.

According to Pew, a third of those surveyed said they have experienced some "negative outcomes" from being on social networks. And 49% said they have seen people act cruelly at least occasionally.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed . Her e-mail address is sgaudin@computerworld.com.

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