Keeping Loved Ones Connected

From sending festive cards and packages to making travel plans, the holidays often remind us of the distance that separates us from friends and loved ones.  Fortunately, broadband offers abundant options to stay connected, but does the Internet ultimately unite us or drive us into greater isolation?  This question was at the heart of a recent Pew Internet and American Life Project study, as featured in our latest Broadband Now video. Here are a few highlights of how Pew says the Internet is actually increasing our social lives:

• Greater diversity of social networks--Pew finds that Internet users explore a wide variety of social circles from visiting neighbors to enjoying parks, cafes, and libraries.
• Giving back to the community--In addition to millions of dollars in online charitable contributions, Pew found that bloggers who surf the web are more likely to volunteer in their local communities.
• Reconnecting with past and present lives--Whether contacting a childhood friend on Facebook or enjoying a video chat with a relative, virtual communities and instant messaging services are keeping us close.
• Making the holidays brighter--Thanks to VoIP, social networking, and email, today's men and women in uniform can reconnect with their loved ones - which is the best kind of holiday gift.

To hear more about how the Internet is connecting us, tune into our latest Broadband Now video.