A quarter (26%) of online adults have searched for a friend online, with men (28%) slightly more likely than women (23%) to seek out information about a friend online. Stories of reconnection were also repeatedly echoed in the findings from our online survey, where accounts of reuniting with long lost friends, family and former flames were among the most commonly shared. For example: “I found a high school friend who I’d been out of touch with for about 10 years. We now visit each other, know each other’s partners and kids, and email regularly.” Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.