How the Internet Is Changing Friendship

No matter where in the world your friends are, they’re always a text, email, or Facebook message away from reconnecting. But does that mean that we’re keeping friendships alive past their natural expiration date, or are virtual connections actually making friendships stronger?

For more, read Julie Beck's articles, "How Friendships Change in Adulthood" and "Disposable Friendships in a Mobile World".

Authors: Julie Beck, Nicolas Pollock, Jeremy Raff

[mcmike]

I find that friendships on social media are not genuine, just flat with no way telling if that friend is really your friend or just an acquaintance. I tend to lose contact with people I care about. Maybe it's best to not have any friends and delete all social media. A friend you can always trust is your dog or cat. Pets make better friendships more than people.

[JonEdwardJordan]

Social media 'friends' aren't friends any more than someone you know from a bar is a friend. Try disappearing from social media for a few months and see how many people notice.

[ordinarytree]

Great message at the end. Ive definitely learned how handy it is to use Facebook to rekindle old friendships easier and more deliberately.

[CaylynAdamko]

Stuff like this is so important, and becoming increasingly so. Thanks for sharing!

[СофияИскрицкая-мф]

I think it’s true that social media friendships often feel ‘dormant’ or ‘flat’ without meaningful interaction. But, they can also be a gateway to keeping relationships alive when we don’t have the time to meet in person. It’s all about how we use these tools—whether to passively scroll or actively engage in deeper, real conversations.

[autisticsceptile]

Well truth be told, I have a lot of dormant friends since I haven't spoken let alone seen them in such a long time

[stevensong]

1:04 - 1:07
Such a great GREAT expression!

[archravenineteenseventeen]

Online friends aren't real unless

A. You met each other and is /are already friends in real life eg. Childhood, old classmate, old co-worker.

B. You decided to meet up and finally know each other and bring friendship to the next lvl. It's called eyeball during the yaho messenger days pre-facebook.

The B one is rare in today's society and can be understood due to news about being killed or anything bad during the meet up between the 2 people.


You are already a disposable. Its hard to create and maintain friendship and it all goes down the drain if you made a single terrible or even slight mistake. All it takes is a single click block and don't bother hear the apology or his/her side on why did he/she done that. You don't even need to listen to explaination. All experience between both are just like a file, thrown to recycle bin then emptied.

[rinbwmkmcry]

When you make friends in video games, share life details, become buddies, make plans to meet in real life, stay close, drift a little as life drones on, try to message them now and then, and suddenly
they block and dump you to go join a furry cult and you find out that you are disposable friend. no answers: the last thing you said was "we should talk more, wish you well!"
and it isn't even your first time! Welcome to Gen Z.

[MinttMeringue]

1:40 oof hit me there. I move constantly, and easily throw things away while moving. I'd say I do see most friendships as more disposable ... there's only a couple I see as necessary really.

[abdul]

If there was no social media, would we all trust and connect with strangers more?

[MinttMeringue]

While I don't use FB or Insta or Snap, from YouTube and forums, my online friendships do have their place. I cant tell my family I'm bi and such, but I can get support from a couple of online friends.

[JillDinardo-mbii]

Social media friends are not real.Go out and meet real people, talk face to face learn to develop authentic friendships.

[JoeM]

This is peerless content. A book with similar material I read was also second to none. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

[alicerayne]

Face to Face Friendships is
gone now thanks to the internet!

[terriblue]

I have no friends at all. Even on the internet, i can't make any friends because nobody likes me.

[dannyboy]

Hello online gang, great video, really enjoyed it, from Townsville Australia. Take care.

[Galaxia]

I want to have a genuine friendship. But then again I also want to be happy and I can't quite seem to get either of them

[marksleeger]

Texting is destroying actual communication.

[KFCJones]

Captions aren't just for the hard-of-hearing, you can use them when the content is interesting but the vocal fry is driving you nuts.