---
title: "Among Friends, Online"
description: "One in four adult internet users have searched online for information about a friend."
date: "2008-07-09"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2008/07/09/among-friends-online/"
categories:
  - "Friendships"
  - "Online Privacy & Security"
---

# Among Friends, Online

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](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/663/digital-footprints)