Phantom Maelstrom

These days, having a relationship with someone on Facebook can mean as much as having one in "real life." So adding and subtracting people from your list is an emotional process that can often require some careful consideration, and possibly even some soul-searching. But why do Facebook users add some people, delete other people, and leave some off the list, in the first place?

The answer isn't actually quite shocking. According to a new study from NM Incite, a company owned by research firm Nielsen McKinsey, actually knowing someone in offline (real life) is the No. 1 reason users add someone to their friends list. Posting "offensive comments" is the primary factor in people hitting "delete." Surprised?

Here are a few more, perhaps more interesting, tidbits: The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Men use Facebook primarily for networking, and dating, while women use social media "for a creative outlet, for coupon/promos and to give positive feedback," all of which sound incredibly stereotypical — possibly even sexist. Connecting with family and friends is a big reason for using the social network, as is networking and other career-related activities, and entertainment. These are of course, very obvious.