All college students, regardless of background, spend a great deal of time on social networks such as Facebook, but a new study suggests more affluent youth share more on the social network—sending private messages, engaging in chats and answering Facebook-based invites with greater frequency than their less well-to-do peers. Some researchers speculate that poorer youth who don’t share as much are holding themselves back socially.

Reynol Junco, an associate professor from Purdue University, says, “Failure to connect in these ways (communicating; sharing; connecting with others) could deprive students of the benefits of participation on such sites, such as increased social capital, improved social integration, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, and improving the technological and communication skills valued in today’s workplace.” (Time)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and two children. Follow him on Twitter.