Explaining Communication Displacement and Large-Scale Social Change in Core Networks: A Cross-National Comparison of Why Bigger is Not Better and Less Can Mean More: Why Bigger is not Better and Less can Mean More

The size and diversity of Americans’ core social networks has declined. Some suggest that the replacement of face-to-face contact with new media, and combined with more insular core networks is detrimental to both individual and societal well-being. Based on a cross-national comparison of the United States, Norway, and Ukraine, we find that, while individual well-being is associated with large and diverse core networks, societal well-being predicts smaller and less diverse networks. Contrary to the replacement hypothesis, we find supplementation: mobile phone and Internet use are associated with larger core networks and more frequent in-person contact. However, while contact is generally associated with contact, frequent in-person interaction within the context of low societal well-being is associated with a smaller core network.