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Do close friends or casual acquaintances help you stay the most informed? Contrary to a long-standing social science theory, new research from Michigan State University suggests that having people in your life who expose you to other social circles helps you stay most informed.

"When it comes to hearing about new things, it doesn't matter whether someone is just a casual acquaintance or your closest friend. What matters is that they can help you tap into other social circles," said Zachary Neal, professor in MSU's Department of Psychology and author of the study.

These findings suggest that one of the most influential theories in social sciences, the Strength of Weak Ties theory, needs revising. This 50-year-old theory states that casual acquaintances or "weak ties" are especially important because they expose you to new ideas.

"Although the Strength of Weak Ties theory has been very influential, it makes some assumptions about social networks that usually don't match reality," said Neal. "The theory focused attention on whether your connection to a person was weak or strong, but it should have focused on whether the connection is a 'bridge' that gets you outside of your social bubble."

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