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Online Friendships are as Meaningful as Face-to-Face Friendships: Why, and My Personal Experience.

  • Writer: Adiena Kaiser
    Adiena Kaiser
  • Jun 26, 2022
  • 2 min read

Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts, humans rely on other humans to continue living day-to-day. It can be anything from small interactions when shopping (like the exchange of money at the counter), or the family you spent time with. Friendships are one of the biggest factors that can make oneself better or worse in terms of human interaction. So, what exactly defines a friendship?


According to Suzanne Degges-White from Psychology Today, she says that a friendship is defined by the following traits:


–Mutual Affinity: sympathy marked by community of interest: KINSHIP


–Mutual Respect: to consider worthy of high regard: ESTEEM


–Reciprocity: mutual dependence, action, or influence


Let’s look at friendships in 2022. Face-to-face friendships are still very apparent, needed, and happening. However, a rise in online friendships has occurred. Parents are concerned for their teens’ health and safety when the internet is involved. The most common concerns are being catfished and meeting up with the people their children find online. In order to make friends online safely, I would highly suggest you check out this article that includes many tips.

Online friendships are the same as face-to-face friendships, without in-person contact. They both have their pros and cons. Below are a few of each from my personal experiences:


Online Pros: Good for shy people, introverts, insecure people, and/or people with social anxiety.

Online Cons: Potential catfishing and/or lack of physical contact.


Face-to-Face Pros: Good for social people, extroverts, and people that are physical (i.e. hugs).


Face-to-Face Cons: Bad for people with body dysmorphia and/or general awkwardness (i.e. eye contact).

Overall, I do not have a preference. I cherish my online friends as much as I do my face-to-face friends. I have even met one of my online friends! As long as the proper safety measures are taken similar to your face-to-face friendships, online friendships can become just as meaningful to you.



References


Featured Image by Matilda Wormwood on Pexels.com


Degges-White, S. (2020, May 29). Do Online Friendships Differ From Face-to-Face Friendships? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202005/do-online-friendships-differ-face-face-friendships


Harriman, P. (2020, September 14). Teens’ online friendships just as meaningful as face-to-face ones, UCI study finds. UCI News. https://news.uci.edu/2017/09/26/teens-online-friendships-just-as-meaningful-as-face-to-face-ones-uci-study-finds/


Mitchell, T. (2019, May 1). Making online friends the safe way. Get Safe Online. https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/blog-item/making-online-friends-the-safe-way/


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