The reason online friendships prosper
Social media is growing and creeping into our lives like a thriving ivy. Once allowed to take root, it is extremely difficult to get rid of it. People of all ages and generations are getting entangledy in its multicolored shades. Despite a lot of concern, hesitation and caution, the use of social media is still on the rise. A lot of initially reluctant users have found new venues of finding satisfaction in various fields, be it educational, recreational, or entertainment.
Social media has opened doors for integration with strangers and familiar in a whole new dimension. Overlooking the apparent dangers and incidents of fraud, treachery and con, multitudes are forming and finding ever lasting friendships online.
There are various reasons why online friendships are such a success story.
1. Individual Bonds:
Childhood friendships are always considered pure and sincere as they are based on individual levels. Position, family, status and achievements may effect but are not the base of childhood friendships. Adult age friendships are usually based on alias statuses. Career, spouse, sibling, ....some trait of personality introduces and forms a new friendship. These friendships can be sincere and strong but very often an adult faces voids in them as s/he finds her/ himself emphasizing a particular role of his/ her life.
The friendships formed on social media are more like childhood friendships. They are on individual basis. You may be someone's child, spouse, parent, employee or employer. It does not majorly effect the friendship as its not the basis of online friendship, hence the relationship thrives on its own grounds.
2. Comfort Level:
The most introvert person becomes relaxed in front of a mirror when alone. Solitude allows one to concentrate on inner thoughts. They say only a minor part of conversation is verbal, the rest is physical. Body language attributes a lot towards forming or destroying ages long interactions.
Online friendships are purely verbal. There's no physical communication. Words are cheap and easy to find or google. Doling out cooing sentiments, in a stream of comforting words online, is much more easier than hugging someone in person.
People find it difficult to express their emotions using voice but copy pasting, googling or simply writing them down, is much more easier. A lot of "stiff" individuals are able to write very "warm" sentiments online. This allows people to express themselves more freely and in a much relaxed manner, which allows friendships to form and flourish online.
3. No Stings Attached:
Friendships demand unsaid responsibilities towards each other. There are expectations, no matter how much one denies. One has to make an effort to keep up or most friendships can die down. Many beautiful friendships got ruined when one friend did not try or the other side did not meet the expectations.
Online friendships are no exception. They form, require investment, sincerity and commitment or they would die down a natural death. What makes them unique is their free nature. One can meet or call upon another friend online, without the constraint of time, preparation or protocol. It's easier to hide sour moods, bitter expressions and only show "sweet face" online. Online friendships carry less luggage with them and hence its much easier to move on if a friendship doesn't work, not saying that it's pain free.
So, welcome to the new era, where social networking has allowing new ways of finding satisfaction. Enjoy its benefits, be wary of its downfalls, but always remember, nothing can ever replace the human touch. No matter how strong an online friendship, human heart would always desire a real presence.
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