Studies have shown that laughter is good for your health and happiness, and laughing with friends is even better for you than laughing alone.
SKOUT, the global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, revealed that laughing can help you make more friends, too.
To celebrate National Humor Month, which kicked off April 1, the team at SKOUT recently examined a sampling of its users' profile photos and found that people who share a photo of themselves laughing have their profile favorited 404% more times and make 324% more connections with others than the average person using SKOUT.
"It was surprising for us to see the impact laughter has in a photograph," Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of SKOUT, said. "They say laughter is the best medicine, and now we know it can also help you meet more friends through social media."
In addition to its review of profile photos, SKOUT recently conducted a survey among more than 3,000 of its users in the U.S. to learn about their thoughts on humor and friendship. Highlights from the survey include:
We crack ourselves up. :)
- 75% of people surveyed think they are funny.
- People with a witty sense of humor are most likely to think they are funny (81%).
We enjoy laughing with friends.
- 94% of people surveyed say they enjoy making other people laugh.
- People who say their style of humor is slapstick are most likely to enjoy making others laugh (98%).
Practical jokers attract more friends.
- Practical jokers and people who say "bathroom humor" is their style are most likely to have five or more close friends.
- Least likely to have five or more close friends are people with a sarcastic or self-deprecating sense of humor.
Not everyone laughs at clowns.
- 30% of people surveyed say they are afraid of clowns.
- People with a sarcastic sense of humor are most likely (37%) to be afraid of clowns.
Women will pass on the chick flick….they prefer comedy films!
- Comedy movies trumped all other genres among women surveyed, with 26% of women preferring comedy vs. 23% who prefer action/adventure, 21% who prefer horror and 18% who prefer romantic films.
- While 43% of men said they prefer action/adventure, comedy came in as the second most popular genre (21%).
Looking to laugh it up with the locals? Here's where to go...
- New Yorkers and San Franciscans are most confident (83%) that they are funny.
- Houstonians want you to have a good time -- 100% of Houstonians surveyed say they enjoy making others laugh. 98% of Angelenos and Atlantans say the same.
To see more survey results, visit the SKOUT Blog.
SKOUT conducted its Humor Survey online between March 11-17, 2016, among 3,372 of its users who reside in the U.S.
Its review of profile photos focused on comparing a sampling of 20 profiles containing a photo where the Skouter was laughing to the average metrics seen among Skouters.
To download SKOUT for iOS, Android, or Windows, or to sign up online, visit skout.com. You can also find SKOUT on Facebook and Twitter.
About SKOUTSKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 16 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.
