Poll: Computers keep more people in touch

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Nearly 60 percent of online adults say they feel more connected to people now than before, poll results show.

While Americans online feel more connected, they're not actually seeing people more, a Harris Poll of 2,258 adults surveyed online between Sept. 1 and 3 said Thursday.

The poll said 58 percent of those asked said they know what's going on with their friends and acquaintances, but don't interact with them personally or individually, and more than half said they have recently had less face-to-face contact with friends.

Americans 18-34 are more likely than those 55 and older to feel more connected with friends than in the past, but the younger demographic also said it had less face-to-face contact than the 55 and over group, the poll said.

The poll said nearly 90 percent of online Americans use computers to maintain contact with friends and relatives; about one third of the respondents said they feel connected or very connected through social media to friends of friends and/or acquaintances.

Harris said it is impossible to determine a margin of error because of the nature of the poll. Full poll results are available at www.harrisinteractive.com.