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Social Networks Shape Beliefs and Behavior: Evidence from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Bailey
  • Drew Johnston
  • Martin Koenen
  • Theresa Kuchler
  • Dominic Russel
  • Johannes Stroebel

Abstract

We analyze de-identified data from Facebook to show how social connections affect beliefs and behaviors in high-stakes settings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with friends in regions facing severe disease outbreaks reduced their mobility more than their demographically similar neighbors with friends in less affected areas. To explore why social connections shape behaviors, we show that individuals with higher friend exposure to COVID-19 are more supportive of social distancing measures and less likely to advocate to reopen the economy. We conclude that friends influence individuals’ behaviors in part through their beliefs, even when there is abundant information from expert sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Bailey & Drew Johnston & Martin Koenen & Theresa Kuchler & Dominic Russel & Johannes Stroebel, 2024. "Social Networks Shape Beliefs and Behavior: Evidence from Social Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(3), pages 463-494.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpemic:doi:10.1086/729533
    DOI: 10.1086/729533
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    Cited by:

    1. Benjamin W. Arold, 2022. "Evolution vs. Creationism in the Classroom: The Lasting Effects of Science Education," ifo Working Paper Series 379, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    2. Charles J. Courtemanche & Anh H. Le & Aaron Yelowitz & Ron Zimmer, 2021. "School Reopenings, Mobility, and COVID-19 Spread: Evidence from Texas," NBER Working Papers 28753, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Erkmen G Aslim & Wei Fu & Chia-Lun Liu & Erdal Tekin, 2024. "Vaccination Policy, Delayed Care and Health Expenditures," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(664), pages 3096-3136.
    4. Valsecchi, Michele & Durante, Ruben, 2021. "Internal migration networks and mortality in home communities: Evidence from Italy during the Covid-19 pandemic," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    5. Xiao, Kun & Zhang, Hongfeng, 2025. "Utility of decisions and beliefs based on bounded-confidence opinion dynamics with group conformity," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    6. Theresa Kuchler & Monika Piazzesi & Johannes Stroebel, 2022. "Housing Market Expectations," NBER Working Papers 29909, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Makridis, Christos A. & Wang, Tao, 2024. "Learning from Friends in a Pandemic: Social networks and the macroeconomic response of consumption," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    8. repec:hal:cdiwps:hal-05056150 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Matilde Giaccherini & Joanna Kopinska & Gabriele Rovigatti, 2022. "Vax Populi: The Social Costs of Online Vaccine Skepticism," CESifo Working Paper Series 10184, CESifo.
    10. Dräger, Lena & Gründler, Klaus & Potrafke, Niklas, 2025. "Peer Effects in Macroeconomic Expectations," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-739, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    11. Nguyen, Giang & Nguyen, My & Pham, Anh Viet & Pham, Man Duy (Marty), 2023. "Navigating investment decisions with social connectedness: Implications for venture capital," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    12. Atalay, Kadir & Staneva, Anita & Zhu, Rong, 2026. "Integration or Isolation? The Impact of Retirement on Social Capital," IZA Discussion Papers 18396, IZA Network @ LISER.
    13. Fernanda Marquez-Padilla & Biani Saavedra, 2022. "The unintended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders on abortions," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 269-305, January.
    14. Sofia Amaral‐Garcia & Mattia Nardotto & Carol Propper & Tommaso Valletti, 2024. "Information and vaccine hesitancy: The role of broadband Internet," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(9), pages 1936-1948, September.
    15. Mayer, Maximilian, 2023. "Climate change concerns and information spillovers from socially-connected friends," IWH Discussion Papers 2/2023, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    16. Li, Nannan & Rambod, Baharak & Dukers-Muijrers, Nicole & Chevalier, Joshua M. & Steijvers, Lisanne & Kojan, Lilian & Wijnen, Senne & Crutzen, Rik & Jahn, Beate & Siebert, Uwe & Stellbrink, Leonard & v, 2026. "General population preferences for health-related protective behaviors during infectious disease emergencies: a systematic review of conjoint-analysis studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).
    17. Yilan Xu & Sébastien Box‐Couillard, 2024. "Social learning about climate risks," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(3), pages 1172-1191, July.
    18. Ida Maria Hartmann, 2025. "Subjective Unemployment Expectations and Precautionary Behavior in the Shadow of Peer Job Loss," CEBI working paper series 25-08, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    19. Arnab K. Basu & Nancy H. Chau & Oleg Firsin, 2025. "Social Connections and COVID19 Vaccination," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(6), pages 1188-1213, June.
    20. Aslim, Erkmen G. & Fu, Wei & Tekin, Erdal & You, Shijun, 2025. "From syringes to dishes: Improving food sufficiency through vaccination," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    21. Xu, Yilan & Box-Couillard, Sebastien, 2022. "Social learning about climate change risk," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322309, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General

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