SKOUT's International Online Friendship Day Survey Reveals 3 out of 4 People Have Online Friends They Haven't Met In Real Life

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow marks the second annual observance of International Online Friendship Day, a moment to recognize the role online friends play in an increasingly connected world. SKOUT, the global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, recently surveyed more than 23,000 people around the world to uncover current trends in online friendship.

"Technology enables us to connect and stay in touch with new friends around the world," said Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of SKOUT. "We facilitated more than 680 million connections on our platform last year, and as our latest survey shows, having friends you met online is the norm in today's digital society."

Highlights from Skout's online friendship survey include:

3 out of 4 people have an online friend they've never met in real life.

• 76% of Americans surveyed say they have a friend they met online but have never met in-person.
• 83% say they would like to meet their online friends in real life someday.

Most people have at least five online friends!

• 62% of Americans surveyed say they have at least five online friends, and 41% say they have at least 10!

Online friendships span the globe.

• 64% of Americans surveyed say they have an online friend who lives in a different country.

Mobile phones make it easier to develop online friendships.

• 92% of Americans surveyed say they communicate with their online friends using their mobile phone (vs. a computer), and 59% say they communicate with their online friends daily.

"Over the past decade, dramatic changes have taken place in the way we live, work and communicate but the need for friendship remains unchanged and essential to our well being," said psychologist Irene S. Levine, PhD, producer of The Friendship Blog, a popular advice blog that helps people better navigate the murky rules of making and keeping friends. "Online friendships can complement 'in real life' ones, providing many of the same vital benefits, such as social support and feelings of connectedness."

Skouters can meet new friends through the app who live near them or anywhere around the world. More than 16 million journeys were taken in 2015 through Skout's popular Travel feature, which enables users to select a destination or search for a city anywhere in the world and instantly connect with new friends in that community.

To download SKOUT for iOS, Android, or Windows, or to sign up online, visit www.skout.com. You can also find SKOUT on Facebook and Twitter.

About SKOUT
SKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 16 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.

SOURCE SKOUT

Related Links

http://www.skout.com