Human connections adapt to changing times, such that we begin using the existing means at our disposal to forge newer bonds with people and stay in touch with those already close to us. The rise of social media has been instrumental in this regard, offering people the ability to weave all kinds of meaningful connections with a diverse range of people.
The set of people whom we can interact with in person is often a limited sample size, and it is likely that we might not find people who understand our specific experiences and passions in games, art, makeup, etc. However, because of the internet, we are no longer constrained by the limits of space and time when it comes to choosing our friends.
Adolescents can use the internet as a valuable space to find individuals who understand them and thus forge meaningful digital communities where they can share their private experiences, dreams and concerns to find catharsis.
For example, teenagers from minority communities, who feel lonely at school and grapple with self-isolation because they feel that nobody in their circles understands them, can now talk to people with similar histories and experiences and therefore fulfil their social needs. Digital platforms then offer us an alternative vision of what friendship looks like, where one does not have to meet one’s friends to be close to them.
However, the internet is notoriously difficult to regulate—when handled irresponsibly, it might threaten the well-being of its users. Hence, we must build the critical thinking skills of adolescents to help them navigate such risks safely, such that they can continue to find meaning and joy through the bonds they build across the digital matrix.
