The impact of social media on our lives has been studied for years, but new research finds a major upside: being active on the social networking site is associated with living longer. This association was seen when the site served to maintain and enhance real-world friendships. The authors of the study note that the research was observational and does not prove that Facebook use actually leads to a longer life. However, they say the study shows that the health benefits of strong social connectedness extend to those on the internet.