I know anecdotes aren't data, but I use social networks primarily to avoid having to maintain active contact with acquaintances I'm expected to run into in the

I know anecdotes aren't data, but I use social networks primarily to avoid having to maintain active contact with acquaintances I'm expected to run into in the future. It lets me say "yeah, I heard about Dan's new house" when I talk to Jesse, for example, even if I don't really want to talk to Dan to find out about that. It's easier to lurk than it is to maintain active contact or actively break ties with said acquaintance (who may have done nothing worse than fail to be interesting enough for me to spend time on him). I wouldn't say that counts as me using social networks out of loneliness. I'd probably name it social efficiency.