By Evi Chrysoheri,
In an era where the internet has blurred the boundaries of time and space, human connections have transcended physical presence. Friendships, once forged in classrooms, workplaces, and neighbourhood streets, are now just as likely to blossom through screens, across continents, and in the vastness of the digital world.
Internet friendships challenge traditional notions of companionship, proving that emotional depth and genuine support can exist beyond face-to-face interactions. Whether through shared interests in online communities, late-night conversations across different time zones, or unwavering support during life’s challenges, these bonds often rival, and sometimes even surpass those formed in the physical world.
Teenagers are especially interested in using the Internet to build relationships. Adolescence is a period marked by significant physical and social developmental changes. As kids grow into teenagers, they spend less time with their parents and place more value on their relationships with their peers. Peers serve as emotional confidants, offering counsel and direction to one another as well as acting as role models for conduct and disposition. However, parents still have a significant impact on their kids’ attitudes and actions. Although parents were the primary source of social relationships during childhood, peers play a significant role in adolescence and parents are only one circle.
Additionally, a portion of the population known as adolescents actively participates in the adoption of the Internet and are early adopters of information and communication technologies. Studies show that the use of the Internet by adolescents is mainly for social purposes. Teenagers can use the Internet to make new friends, chat after school, share homework-related information and gossip, and give and receive social support. A recent U.S. survey confirmed the existence of these relationships and reported that 14% of U.S. teenagers have formed close online friendships. Since forming social connections is essentially a developmental necessity of adolescence, forming online connections could be one of the most enticing aspects of youth Internet use.
Low self-esteem is often the result of a lack of unconditional parental and peer support during childhood, which creates feelings of inadequacy in adolescence. People with low self-esteem are more likely to report feeling lonely and having fewer friends as teenagers. There has been debate in recent years regarding whether loneliness is a direct consequence of the Internet or if loneliness is the driving force behind some people’s use of it. According to recent research, there is less proof that loneliness is solely a result of technology, supporting the claim that people who experience loneliness and low self-esteem are more likely to use the Internet for social reasons.
Online relationships can be a lifeline for people who have social anxiety, introversion, or particular life circumstances that make in-person friendships challenging. They provide an environment where people can be authentic without worrying about criticism, creating relationships based more on shared values and personality than on outward appearances or social standing.
Online friendships do have drawbacks, though, despite all of their advantages. Sometimes a sense of distance is created by the absence of physical presence, which makes it challenging to offer consolation when a hug or reassuring presence is required. Time zone differences, digital misunderstandings, and the ever-present risk of deception or catfishing are also realities of online interactions
Furthermore, because of the internet’s fleeting nature, friendships can occasionally wane more quickly. Unlike real-life relationships, where regular encounters naturally maintain bonds, online friendships require conscious effort to sustain. Without consistent communication, even the strongest connections can gradually weaken.
As we move forward in this ever-expanding digital landscape, one thing is certain: friendships, whether formed in person or online, thrive on authenticity and effort. The internet has given us the gift of connecting with souls we might never have encountered otherwise, proving that sometimes, the deepest connections are not those we can touch, but those that touch us.
Reference
- Online Friendship Formation, Communication Channels, and Social Closeness. DHI. Available here
