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Researchers determine the optimal number of Facebook friends to have

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By John Glenday, Reporter

December 18, 2012 | 2 min read

Social media researchers claim to have hit upon the optimal number of Facebook friends to have on Facebook, implying that the number of friends people have is an important indicator of success.

The team, composed of academics from the University of Virginia and the London Business School, hedged their bets by saying that the ‘perfect’ number of friends varies by country and various socio-economic factors.

This predicts that a ‘broad, shallow’ networking strategy is best for people who are mobile and living in an economically favourable context.

For those stuck in one place with poor prospects a ‘narrow, deep’ strategy offers better results.

The report said: “In the age of Facebook, many Americans seem to opt for a broad, shallow networking strategy. Yet cross-cultural research has shown that having many friends is not always viewed positively outside the United States.

“'When times are prosperous, your friends are less likely to need much help, whether it’s covering a hospital bill or providing babysitting, and so a broad network of friends is easy to maintain.

“But when times aren’t as flush, having more friends might incur huge costs in terms of both time and resources.”

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