When Online Friendships Begin to Replace Real Life Connections

Online relationships are part of modern life, the Internet is now a place we connect with people, build friendships with people we feel understand us and this has made it very easy for people to connect, communicate and find a community, especially introverts. For introverts who find it really difficult to communicate and make friends physically, online relationships have now made it possible for them to connect with people online and, most times, this relationship they build online, becomes as meaningful to them as a physical relationship. Through social media platforms and many online platforms, people now connect and express themselves with people they have never met before. I understand this might pose a risk in our current world, but it also has turned out good for most people too.

Image is generated with ChatGPT

However, I believe we should have a balance, online relationships shouldn't completely replace the relationships we have with people around us, physical relationships matter too, isolation from the physical world is really risky. I understand the level of comfort we get from communicating online, and most times it affects physical interaction with those around us, but striking a balance is really necessary.
No matter the message notification from friends online, there are moments we will need physical presence and that's why it's necessary to keep healthy online and physical relationships too.

Sometimes, online relationships can really create a false sense of intimacy, no matter how long we spend chatting and communicating with a person on our screen, we really can't tell how they feel about us, or even say we know them better, every knowledge we build about them is based on what they share and not what we have seen. It's very easy for people to build a different identity of themselves online, but when we know them physically we could tell better about them, see their flaws and see through our lenses, not just a screen.

Image is generated with ChatGPT

Also, we can't neglect the heartbreak that comes with not communicating with a person you built your emotions around, especially if such a friend is your source of comfort, joy and attention.
Online friends could just leave without explanation, all they need to do is block you or not even respond to your message and that's a different kind of pain, especially when there's emotional dependence. Unlike a physical relationship where you can communicate and understand why a friend is distancing you, online relationships never give you a chance to know people better, that's why creating a balance between both is really necessary.

Knowing people online doesn't give the same expression as a physical friendship, knowing them physically gives you the chance to learn better about them, it helps with communication and helps in settling disagreements face to face and many other things. With online relationships, there are many things you don't know about a person, because you only interact on the phone.

Image is generated with ChatGPT

I believe some genuine and great friendships can be built online, regardless of the possible pitfalls. I still believe the Internet can connect people who share the same values and interests. I have heard of many genuine friendships that started with online interactions and became a valuable one too.

Personally, I believe we should create a balance, being an introvert shouldn't be a reason you should keep only online friends, you could also keep a few physical friends instead of being isolated physically. There should always be a meaningful connection with the physical world too, still have a healthy online friends/community and also appreciate online and physical friends. Online friendships still end well, but shouldn't affect how we connect with the physical people around us, it's very important we value genuine companionship, human presence and physical interaction too.