There is an ongoing debate over the topic of communicating online, which has gathered considerable attention. It is often argued that individuals will be among people and will be capable of enlarging the number of people in their friendship, with the access to noble online communication. I partially agree with this statement, as online communication can be a primary cause of isolation, despite being the catalyst of unlocking new friendships.
The method of socializing using the internet has become widely ubiquitous, which does not require face to face interactions. This means that by making new friendships or texting a friend people are becoming inadvertently dependent on digital connectivity, as well as losing sight of the orthodox way of socializing – in real life – which served people from ancient times. By doing so, in turn, people are alienating themselves from the outside world in favor of accessibility and convenience provided by online interactions. For instance, the study in China also noted that individuals who spent more than four hours daily on social media were twice as likely to report feelings of loneliness. This shows how reliance on digital interactions can lead to isolation.
On the flip side, while online platforms allow for quick connections, they may lack the depth needed for meaningful friendship. Compared to the past, acquiring a new friend has become as easy as surfing on the internet. This is because on almost every corner of the internet one comes across ads offering a chance to communicate with other internet users, making the act of connecting with someone new an accessible pastime. Especially, with the enhancement of new technologies, communicating will become the easiest it has ever been. On average, an Instagram user interacts roughly with 40 people daily, in comparison to the ancient times when finding a single soulmate was drastically rare. This is an epitome of the matter, which suggests to what extent it is facile to build a new friendship with someone.
In conclusion, there is a notion that with the evolution of online communication, people will still be able to build new relationships and never be isolated. I personally agree with this standpoint with a reluctance, as many people are becoming more reliant on the internet interactions rather than those in the real world, turning them into isolated individuals.