Sociology
The Spatial Logic of Segregated Friendship Networks in Schools
Quick fact
Students who sit at the same lunch table are dramatically more likely to become friends than those who sit at different tables, even when they share similar backgrounds—space can create social barriers as strong as race or class.
Why this is interesting
You might think students choose friends purely based on shared interests or values. But what if something as mundane as where you sit in the cafeteria or which classroom you're assigned to shapes your friendships more than you realise?