Face-to-face encounters persist more effectively when reinforced by social media ties.

Evidence

Social media consultant Laura “Pistachio” Fitton explains, “South By Southwest, all the years I’ve gone, has been a huge point of acceleration, so there’s something also very interesting about, not only social media that leads to face to face, but face to face that persists more effectively and more connectedly because of a social media connection.” Meeting at SXSW often leads to following people on Twitter or reading their blogs, further cementing social ties. — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 198

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the literature on weak ties and networked intimacy; also to Milgrom’s finding that repeated interaction strengthens cooperative ties. — connects to: Beliefs gain validity from social endorsement and shared beliefs create social connection — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 2367; Following others’ feeds strengthens friendships and community closeness — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 566

Broader Connections

• Following others’ feeds strengthens friendships and community closeness #corroborates (0.85) — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 566
• Beliefs gain validity from social endorsement and shared beliefs create social connection #expands (0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2367