Researchers studied how people from different income levels become friends using Facebook data. They found that making cross-class friendships depends on both having opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds and people's willingness to form those friendships. Understanding these patterns helps communities build stronger connections between people of all income levels.
Access this document
About half of social disconnection between income groups comes from limited opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds
The other half comes from people being less likely to form friendships across income lines even when they have the chance
Religious organizations show less bias in friendship formation compared to schools and workplaces
Larger and more diverse groups tend to have higher barriers to cross-class friendship formation
Communities can increase connections by either bringing diverse groups together or helping existing mixed groups interact better
Researchers created public tools to help communities identify the best strategies for their specific situations
Keywords
Was this article helpful?
More from the library on similar topics
The Change Lab launched in 2025 to help neighbors connect and create positive change in their communities. In six months, they built strong partnershi...
A major new 25-year study shows that many Americans lack strong social connections, which are as important for health as exercise and good nutrition. ...
This research report explores how Americans can build stronger communities by connecting with people who have different backgrounds and beliefs. The s...
Food banks started with the goal to end hunger by sharing extra food with people who need it. However, food insecurity is more complex - families must...